ETNA GREEN — Etna Green Council is looking into budgeting funds for park maintenance.
Gary Baker, who works alongside other residents to annually plant flowers and place Christmas lights at Remembrance Park, attended Tuesday’s council meeting and asked about the possibility of more funds being appropriated for the town's parks. This would also include Heritage Park.
"There needs to be money appropriated for the parks," said Baker. "We feel it needs to be more like $1,500 to $1,600 a year. We try to put flowers out there, then there's hoses, fertilizer, weed killer ... and the Christmas lights almost need to be changed every year. We're to the point where if we can't get money, we're going to turn it over to (the town)."
In 2023, the group put $200 of their own money into the Christmas lights.
"We need to look at some sort of system for taking care of our parks," said Councilman Jason Hanes. "We've got to start a fund for that and that means we've gotta look at our budget this year and put it in for next year. We're going to find a way to make it work, but getting it into our budget is the problem."
Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook said she would contact the State Board of Accounts to look into the issue further.
Council President Heath Roberts also suggested seeking sponsorships to provide funds for park projects.
The council approved giving $750 toward the purchase of flowers for Remembrance Park this year.

    Pictured (L to R) are Etna Green Town Council Member Susan Klinefelter and Council President Heath Roberts. Photo by Liz Shepherd, InkFreeNews
  

In other business, the council discussed an ordinance regarding overnight parking on Walnut Street. Town attorney Nick Jacobs presented an amended ordinance which would allow for overnight parking in that area. However, Broadway Street parking is currently mentioned within the ordinance. Some areas of Walnut Street with no-parking signage are also not mentioned in the town's current parking ordinance. The council decided to hold off on approving the amended ordinance until changes regarding Broadway Street and specific areas of no parking on Walnut Street are addressed.
Alliance of Indiana Rural Water's Apprenticeship Program Coordinator Kelly Gardner and Water Circuit Rider Chad Reynolds also attended the council meeting to provide an update on Town Superintendent Bryan Long's participation in the apprenticeship program. Gardner said Long has been in compliance with AIRW's program and agreed to send the town guidelines on what Long's wage schedule should look like prior to the May council meeting.
The council thanked Gardner and Reynolds for their assistance over the last year with the town's recent employee changes.
Council also:
• Learned hydrant flushing dates have been changed to May 7-9. Notifications will be sent out to residents about hydrant flushing via Reach Alert.
• Heard Etna Township Fire Department will have a fish fry from 4-7 p.m., or until sold out, on May 4. ETFD will also have its photo fundraiser on Sunday, April 14.
• Approved having Cook get three quotes for cleaning mats in the town hall. Cook said there's been issues with Wildman in Warsaw cleaning the mats and uniforms for Superintendent Long.
• Approved an underground concept from the Indiana Municipal Power Agency for power lines in the area of East Pleasant Street. Blake and Paula Walls recently purchased two lots which are located to the northwest of Gulf Stream and plan to build a house on the property.
• Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 in Etna Green Town Hall.
The council will also hold a public hearing prior to the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. regarding the placement of a stop sign at Walnut and Spring streets. Jacobs said since those roads are owned by the town, council has the authority to place signage at the intersection.