Water rate hikes and budget highlight council meeting

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

After considerable discussion, Berne City Council voted in favor of the first water rate hike in 30 years at Monday's bi-monthly meeting. Council members voted to raise rates from a current $9.54 to $17.96, with an increase of 40 percent at $8.42. The rate grew out of a presentation in July in which Steve Carter, a consultant with H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, pointed out that water reserve funds have fallen from $1.3 million three years ago to the current amount of $500,000.

Maller noted that a portion of that reflected the construction of the new water tower last year.

"We're not in a bad situation but something has to be done before we get there," said council member Philip Provost. "The amount of money is dwindling so it is going to make it a pretty extensive increase."

Sewer board, Decatur to keep talking

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Negotiations are continuing between the Adams County Regional Sewer District board and the city of Decatur pertaining to sewage treatment costs for a proposed $4.5 million sewer project to serve the outlying areas of Monmouth, Bobo, Pleasant Mills and Arcadia Village.

While those talks are ongoing, however, regional sewer board members on Tuesday were urged to look at other options — including the possibility of sending sewage to Berne — to make the proposed sewer project as cost effective as possible.

The regional sewer district board met Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Center and received an update on negotiations with the city of Decatur that were suggested at last month's meeting.

Huntington County Tab:

As the school year begins and students hustle through the halls, many will see new administrative faces.

Three new principals have been hired in Huntington County - Chad Daugherty at Huntington North High School, Chuck Werth at Crestview Middle School and Russ Degitz at Lancaster Elementary School.

Each principal weighs in on his hopes on the start of a new year:

Damage costs rising

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The cost to repair damages to the electrical system at the Adams County Courthouse, which was zapped during severe storms that whipped through the area at the beginning of August, is much higher than initially thought.

Dave Meyer of building maintenance told the Adams County Commissioners on Monday that the estimated cost to repair the electrical damage caused by an apparent lightning strike is now around the $60,000 mark, a substantial jump from the initial $20,000 estimate in the days immediately following the storm.

Pries resigns South Adams post

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Embattled South Adams Athletic Director Mike Pries confirmed this morning that he has resigned his position.

Pries, who survived a 3-2 vote of the school board two years ago after then-superintendent Cathy Egolf attempted to have him fired, recently was highlighted when it was learned Paul David Baker, 48, a friend of Pries, was a SA volunteer girls basketball coach who was required to register as a sexually violent predator.

Contacted by the Democrat this morning, Pries simply said he had submitted his resignation Friday to school officials.

Preble and Hoagland fire departments get grant funds

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Volunteer fire departments in Preble and Hoagland are among rural fire departments in 39 counties across Indiana to share in $242,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants.

The grants are administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Division of Forestry Fire Control Headquarters and are made available through the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.

New school board election filing deadline approaching

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

The deadline to file as a candidate for a local school district in Indiana is approaching, according to South Adams School Superintendent Scott Litwiller. Under new policy, all school board elections across Indiana would be moved to the November ballot under a bill that has gained final approval from the state legislation.

Locally, that choice was always made in the May primary.

The proposal would complete the practice of allowing local boards to decide whether to hold the nonpartisan election during the May or the November elections, starting with the 2012 elections.