The ordinance was passed without comment at this week’s meeting of the council, but at the group’s previous meeting it was stated the increases are needed to pay for the city’s long-term control plan which was mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The city is required to complete this plan. If it doesn’t, it will suffer a substantial monetary penalty, according to city attorney Dave Copenhaver.

Mayor Greg York previously explained the city needs to borrow $20 million to finish separating storm and sewage lines and update the wastewater treatment plant. He noted that many of the industries and businesses the city is trying to attract require modern utility services. He also said the city wants to eventually be able to provide water and sanitary sewers for residents and businesses south and west of city limits; Ordinance 3765 specifies that sewage services provided outside city limits will be subject to an additional charge of 14.5 percent over what customers who reside in city limits pay.

In other news, council member Jeff Hancock shared a copy of the city’s animal control ordinance, which dates back to 2007. The copies he distributed included what Hancock said were suggested changes he, Mayor York and New Castle-Henry County Animal Shelter Executive Director Linda Bir-Conn were involved in drafting. Bir-Conn is expected to appear before the council at the panel’s first meeting in April and ask that the ordinance revisions be adopted.

Council member Jerry Walden suggested that with construction on Broad Street starting this week, a decision regarding the 100 block of S. 14th Street, which has been closed for roughly three years while renovations to the L.A. Jennings Building continue, needs to be made.

“When this construction starts, I think it’s probably imperative to think about getting 14th Street opened up in the meantime,” Walden said.

Mayor York responded by saying interviews with engineering firms interested in designing the proposed 1400 Plaza are ongoing and that Walden’s suggestion would be taken into consideration. The 1400 Plaza, if built as envisioned, will include a parking area as well as a venue for public gatherings like the Henry County Farmer’s Market and Broad Street Cruise-Ins.

Council member Aaron Dicken asked about a repair schedule for the intersection of I Avenue and 14th Street. He was told as soon as asphalt is available the street will be repaired. Dicken also said the council needs to give some serious thought to finding tenants for the empty buildings and storefronts on Broad Street.

“I’d really like for us to consider what we can do to make that (area) look enticing and ... help revive the downtown,” Dicken said.

Council member Rex Peckinpaugh shared a couple of comments including praise for the recently re-opened armory and his belief that facility needs shades on the windows and that something needs to be done to improve the facility’s interior acoustics. Peckinpaugh made a motion to spend up to $20,000 to address those two areas, but later withdrew his motion. An alternative funding source and the possibility of donated materials and or services will be investigated.

The New Castle City Council next meets at 7 p.m. April 4 in council chambers on the second floor of the municipal building, 227 N. Main St.