ETNA GREEN — The Etna Green Town Council approved an amendment to the town's speed limit ordinance during a meeting on Tuesday.
At the council's January meeting, Councilwoman Susan Klinefelter asked about the possibility of setting Etna Green's speed limit to 20 mph. Klinefelter said she had seen complaints on social media about speeding motorists.
The speed limit ordinance now has been amended to set speed limits on all town roads to 20 mph, with the exceptions being roadways near Heritage Park, and Ind. 19 and West Old 30. The speed limit near Heritage Park is 10 mph, and the town does not regulate Ind. 19 and West Old 30.
Violators can be fined anywhere from $50 to $150.
Council said they have been in contact with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office for enforcing the speed limits and will implement a plan on placing new speed limit signs along town roads.
The council also discussed making further progress with the walking trail project at Heritage Park. The town has a $200,000 pledge from the K21 Health Foundation and an $18,000 Go Forward! grant to use toward creating the trail and placing objects such as benches and exercise equipment along the trail.
Council President Heath Roberts said he got two quotes for the trail's creation, with the quotes ranging around $120,000 to $165,000. With that baseline knowledge of the main path, Roberts noted pathway additions he'd like made to the current plan of creating a looped walking trail around the park. These additions include creating a path from the east parking lot to the trail, and handicapped-accessible pathways to the park's pavilion and bathrooms.
"We have to get this project going so we can utilize everything that's here that we can use," said Roberts. "I want to make it a community park where everybody can do stuff. I don't want it to be no dogs, no kids ... we can't have cars or golf carts (on the trail), but bicycles, skateboards, people walking their dogs, it needs to be a friendly thing."
A quote was not approved since council wants to move forward with the proposed pathway additions and calculate that cost into the total project.
Roberts also gave an update on matters related to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. He said the town received notice it's unsatisfactory on flow measurement. Roberts presented a quote to replace the flow meter at the sewer plant in the amount of $10,240, which includes installation and calibration.
"We can't obsolete that part because in 2026, every sewer plant has to have that as far as that goes," said Roberts. "We have a lot of repairs we're working with Commonwealth (Engineers) on. The sewer plant needs a lot of work, and we're going to have bills like this coming and it's not going to stop until we actually get a bunch of that facility redone. Everything out there has been Band-Aided for years, and all the Band-Aids are peeling off."
Commonwealth Engineers Business Development Manager Chris Harrison said they are also seeking support letters from residents to help the town pursue a Community Development Block Grant. Harrison said the town is seeking a planning grant for water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
"Many of you that have lived in the community, you've dealt with either water issues, wastewater issues or flooding," said Harrison. "We just want to get in letters that we can submit to OCRA for this planning grant."
Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe also gave a brief update on a future mural project in town. She said grant processes are moving forward, with the town looking to apply for grants through the Kosciusko County Tourism Commission, All Things Art and Family Express.
Council also tabled further discussions on health insurance for town employees to their March meeting. Klinefelter said she contacted the State Board of Accounts, which recommended the town pay Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook a health insurance stipend. The matter was tabled in order to give Cook the opportunity to look at other health insurance options.
Etna Green Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. March 11.