Washington’s City Council heard two citizen requests at the beginning of Monday night’s meeting. The first request from Charlie Vaught was based on a recent fire in a west side apartment building. Vaught presented the council with an ordinance from Clarksville that required all rental properties to be inspected on a regular basis for safety and sanitary issues. Mayor Rhoads said the City of Washington has been in conversation with Bloomington on their rental property ordinance. City Attorney Tim Dant told the Council that until the passage of a state statute in 2021, cities were not permitted to inspect rental properties. Since that time, several communities have adopted regulations involving safety and sanitary conditions in rental properties. Another request came from the Daviess County YMCA asking for the city’s help with their pool project. Bill Dobson told the board that the Y has the only indoor pool in the county, is facing a major maintenance project, and has raised $150,000 through donations. The council said they would consider the request.
The Council also heard the introduction of a new ordinance that will raise installation fees and the share that developers will have to pay for supplies and equipment to hook onto the city’s power grid. At the last meeting, the Electric Department Superintendent, Randy Ennis, told the Council that the cost of some supplies and equipment used by the Electric Department had risen by 500%. And rising prices and damage to the buildings have caused the Park Department to request a hike in the rental fees for using the community building, the pavilion, and the Kiwanis Cabin at East Side Park. Under the proposed ordinance, the proposed rental fees for the community building would be $200 for not-for-profit organizations, $250 for individuals and family events, and $300 for for-profit and business events. There would also be a $200 damage deposit. The rentals for the Pavillion and Kiwanis Cabin will also rise with renters being responsible for their own clean-up.
The Council also passed a resolution affirming last year’s action of giving City employees a $1,000 bonus from the COVID relief funds the City received from the state and federal ARPA grants.
The Board of Public Works and Safety met after the council meeting and heard a request from Daviess County Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Morris. Morris told the council that the chamber of commerce is planning for the annual wine and brew fest on April 22. Morris said that 40 vendors are already registered, with the goal of having 50 on Main Street. Music will be provided from a stage set up between 1st and 2nd Streets. Morris requested that Main Street be closed from 1st to State Road 57 during the Fest. Morris also noted that with the construction of the Commons area, this will be the last year that closing Main Street will be necessary.
And speaking of the Commons, Mayor Rhoads announced the official groundbreaking on the Commons project.
The mayor said the Commons will present the opportunity to have all sorts of downtown events, from farmers markets to entertainment, and attract people to the downtown area. The public is invited to the ground-breaking ceremony. The Commons project is being spearheaded by the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation and has received financing from corporate donations, along with Daviess County and the City of Washington.
