Construction issues still on City Council minds

Lynda Dunbar

Still at loggerheads with Frontier Communications about the presence of its internet lines in the right of way delaying progress on U.S. 231 construction in the vicinity of City Hall, city officials are calling in the big guns.

“Honestly we have no idea when we’re going to be done out here,” Mayor Lynda Dunbar told the City Council, gesturing toward Washington Street from the Council Chambers at City Hall.

That’s because the Frontier issue, first brought up publicly at the August Council meeting, lingers with apparently no resolution in sight.

That’s why Mayor Dunbar has brought State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) into the mix to see what he can do to motivate the Seymour-based company to move its lines out of the right of way as soon as possible to facilitate progress of the project.

“Frontier has yet to clear their lines, creating a lot of havoc,” Mayor Dunbar said in August, noting that its inability or refusal to get its lines moved is causing a problem that has gone “to INDOT higher-ups really quick.”

All of the Frontier work was supposed to have been done in 2023, Dunbar noted.

Meanwhile, the rest of the U.S. 231 project has been progressing to the point where the mayor expects “Jackson Street should be open soon.”

She noted that Rieth-Riley construction workers have focused recent attention on sidewalks and that continued Monday with efforts ongoing on the south side of the square.

Once the sidewalk work is done, attention will turn to putting the brick pavers back in place.

Councilor Katherine Asbell praised the mayor’s efforts and thanked her “for being so assertive with INDOT.”

The mayor also reported that an open house with INDOT officials will be coming up next month. Time and date to be announced.

“INDOT’s trying to communicate better,” Dunbar commented.

During City Council reports, David Masten said a recent visit from a couple of INDOT representatives from the Crawfordsville District found them to be “very good, very understanding.”

However, Indianapolis INDOT representatives “hedged a lot,” Masten said, explaining that they conveyed the notion they “didn’t expect to have any problems” with the U.S. 231 construction.

“Really, you didn’t on a road from 1863?” Masten asked incredulously.

Also during the Council comments portion, Councilman Darrel Thomas, who came upon a traffic jam on Arlington Street caused by a semi reportedly en route to Illinois but trying to make a turn in the heart of Greencastle, suggested, “We still have truck drivers who can’t read” regarding the detours.

Meanwhile, Mayor Dunbar announced that with the coming sewer project for Toddson and J-Mar drives, Albin Pond Road will be closed to all but local traffic beginning Oct. 1.

The long wait for the project wasn’t lost on Councilman Masten.

“It was annexed in 1984,” he said. “It’s 40 years overdue.”

The work should take about 30 days, the mayor said, noting “everyone should be able to get to their homes”

“For the safety of everyone on Albin Pond Road we’re just going to shut down the whole road.”

There may be a silver lining in that as Mayor Dunbar said the city “may do some other work on the road while it is closed.” Albin Pond is frequently mentioned as long in need of repairs anytime road construction is addressed.

Sidewalks are another area that will be addressed next year, the mayor mentioned, noting that the city is starting to put together an inventory on sidewalks and will be working with the THRIVE organization out of Terre Haute for a survey and sidewalk analysis.

“We have a lot of sidewalks that go nowhere,” Dunbar said. “We have places where there is no sidewalk to get there.”

One of those places is along Arlington Street between Washington and Seminary streets, a path frequented by people headed to Robe-Ann Park and the pool.

Dunbar promises to take care of making that safer for pedestrians and bikers.

“Electric poles and trees are all in the way, it’s very tight,” she pointed out. “It’ll be addressed next year.”

One of the issues will be ADA (Americans with Disabilities) compliance, the mayor said. “That’s very important in our community,” she said.

For example, Robe-Ann Park is nearly 90 percent compliant, Dunbar said as “huge strides are being made with ADA.”

That will include repairs to the Emerald Palace playground, where “ADA compliance will be a big factor.”

Council members Asbell, Masten and Thomas were joined by Vince Aguirre, Tina Nicholson and Stacie Langdon for the September meeting. Council Mark Hammer was absent. Mayor Dunbar, Clerk-Treasurer Mikayla Johnson and City Attorney Laurie Hardwick were also in attendance.

Other items considered at he meeting will be addressed in a later article.

The City Council will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at City Hall.