Goshen City Council members received a petition signed by more than 140 residents Monday night requesting plans for changing C.R. 40 as the south link road is being completed, but voted 4-3 to not discuss the issue at their meeting.
Attorney Teresa Cataldo, Bristol, said she represents a group of residents living in the area of C.R. 40, east of Ind. 15, where a new link road is being built.
“This group of citizens doesn’t want to see C.R. 40 turned into a cul de sac,” Cataldo said. “It will adversely affect their health, welfare and safety.”
She said her group would like to see C.R. 40 continue and be extended to the new access road to C.R. 27, rather than convert a section of the existing C.R. 40 into a cul de sac.
She said 360 people live in that area and 142 signed a petition asking the council to re-consider the design of the change to C.R. 40.
City attorney Larry Barkes pointed out the project is 90 days into construction and about six weeks from completion.
Mayor Allan Kauffman said if city officials tried to stop the project now the contractor might sue the city.
Mary Cripe, city engineer, pointed out the new road will be a much safer system with fewer driveway cuts, especially for school bus traffic as the second phase takes it to Ind. 15. The section of C.R. 40 will have a more residential feel, she said.
Councilman Jeremy Stutsman said when the Redevelopment Commission discussed the plan for the road, fellow Councilman Everett Thomas was the only one speaking against the plan.
Councilman Darryl Riegsecker moved to place the C.R 40 issue on the Monday agenda. Chic Lantz offered a second. But Dixie Robinson was the only other member to vote for adding the issue, while President Tom Stump, Julia Gautsche, Stutsman and Thomas voted to end the discussion.
City budget
The main order of business at Monday’s council meeting was first reading of the 2010 city budget and tax levies as advertised recently.
The approximate $23.5 million budget anticipates no new fees, while leaving several city positions vacant, including police, firefighters, building, street and park departments.
“It is a very difficult budget for Goshen because the city has to address the circuit breaker property tax caps next year,” said Dan Hedden, with Umbaugh and Associates, who consult with the city.
Hedden said the state tax caps will cause the city to receive about 10 percent less in 2010 than it is receiving this year. But he went on to explain the city’s operating budget at the end of this year is expected to have about 20 percent of 2010 spending.
And Hedden said there is still time to make changes in the budgets, but they may not be increased above the figures that were advertised.
Mayor Kauffman said if additional funds are needed above the budget amounts, city officials will need to approve an additional appropriation to use the funds.
Council members approved the proposed budgets, tax levies, and pay ordinances for city fire and police departments Monday.
The council will meet next on Oct. 20 for final approval of the 2010 budget.
Other business
In other action Monday, the council extended the city sewer department deadline for food businesses that must install grease traps in sewer lines. The current deadline is Dec. 31, but the council agreed to extend that deadline by one year.
In other utility measures, an ordinance increasing rates for sanitary sewer users was also approved on second reading. That approval was unanimous.
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