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ETNA GREEN - The Etna Green Town Council spoke with representatives for Metro Communications Company about boring fiber optic lines and provided an update on the Heritage Park project during a Tuesday, Oct. 13, meeting.
Joel Moyer, with Metro Communications Company, attended the meeting to ask council about their concerns with the company boring in town.
Council President Heath Roberts said the council had prior issues with utility companies coming into town with similar requests and damaging property without alerting the town.
Moyer said Metro has a bond process the town could utilize as a failsafe for any potential issues. Roberts and Councilman Rod Thomas both also expressed concerns with Metro boring lines on Ind. 19 and asked Metro to consider using Pearl Street instead.
Council tabled further discussions on Metro to their November meeting in order for paperwork to be submitted to town attorney Nick Jacobs.
Roberts and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe also notified those in attendance that the town had received a grant through the Community Amenities Program (CAP) to complete Phase III of the Heritage Park project. This will include the teardown of the park's concession building, which should occur in the next two weeks; installation of lights, potentially before November; $50,000 worth of playground equipment; and the building of bathrooms and pavilions in spring 2027. A community build day for the playground equipment is also in the works for the spring.
In other business, the council heard from Chris Harrison, business development manager with Commonwealth Engineers, about submitting the Railroad Street project for the 2027 Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program. If received, the entirety of Railroad Street will be worked on.
Harrison also requested an amendment to the town's existing preliminary engineering review for its wastewater system, stating the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) would be formally requesting an extension of the study to the county commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Council also:
• Reminded residents that trick-or-treat is from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The Lions Club will be hosting their annual hayride event that day at 7 p.m. at Heritage Park.
• Received a replica of the 2025 Community of the Year award from Dawn Wilkinson, KEDCO's director of projects and operations. Kosciusko County was named Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Wilkinson said KEDCO thought it was appropriate for all towns in Kosciusko County receive a replica because "it takes all of our communities to make what we call Kosciusko County home."
• Approved a patrol services agreement with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office at $50 an hour. Roberts said they increased the rate in order to compete with what other towns are offering to deputies.
• Reminded residents that the toddler playground at Heritage Park is meant for younger children and not teenagers.
Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
