Roads well traveled: Martinsville council names streets after Bobby Helms, Ruth Rusie
MARTINSVILLE — The Martinsville City Council approved naming two roadways that are being constructed as part of the ongoing I-69 project after local icons Bobby Helms and Ruth Rusie.
Helms was a country music singer who recorded No. 1 hits such as "Fraulein" and "My Special Angel."
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He is most famous, however, for his recording of "Jingle Bell Rock," a consistent Christmas-time favorite for radio stations across the country.
Rusie was a longtime teacher and volunteer in the Martinsville area who passed away in December 2021 at 103.
She worked with organizations like United Way of Central Indiana and Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County.
Bobby Helms Boulevard will run between Bills Boulevard and Ruth Rusie Lane will stretch between Bobby Helms Boulevard and south Ohio Street.
Other resolutions
The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to submit its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The grant is intended to provide additional funds aimed at meeting the housing needs of the city's low- to moderate-income population and other community development projects such as relining sewer pipes.
Martinsville has requested $700,000 in total CDBG funds. The amount of CDBG funds proposed to be used for activities that will benefit low- to moderate-income individuals is approximately $456,890.
The resolution stipulates that Martinsville will provide non-CDBG funds amounting to $982,136 in the form of General Obligation (GO) bonds through the Martinsville Redevelopment Commission once funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs arrives.
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GO bonds are a type of municipal bond where the repayments on interest and principal are guaranteed by the revenue generated by the relevant governmental body. They are commonly used by state and local governments to raise the necessary money to fund projects that may not create a direct revenue channel.
The council also hosted a public hearing regarding the Community Development Block Grant Wastewater Grant Program. The hearing featured no comments from any members of the public.
Another resolution was also passed, approving the Martinsville Redevelopment Commission's determination and report of no excess assessed value.
Each year, the commission must decide if the worth of the assessed value of taxable property in the designated allocation area might surpass the amount of assessed value needed to generate revenue to afford principal and interest.
The commission determined during its previous meeting on June 8 there is no excess assessed value after reviewing the most recent assessed value of properties falling within its tax increment finance (TIF) districts.
Legacy Program
First Deputy Clerk Ben Merida discussed the city's Legacy Program with members of the council. The program is designed to encourage city employees to utilize effective communication and strive for personal growth through intentionality. This is all part of a wider effort to improve employee retention by offering programs that invest in employees.
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Merida provided an overview of the goals and the general timeline of the program. While the program is not projected to begin until July 12, the city has been paying since April to finance materials and booklets needed for the program's activities.
The program has already been approved in the city's budget as part of its employee benefits package. Merida said the program will cost the city $15,000 a month. All city employees will be highly encouraged to participate in a group setting for 45 minutes to an hour, twice a month. These meetings would take place while employees are on the clock.
"So the plan right now is to try this for three or four months and then meet with the department heads, with the employees themselves and management to get a feel from everyone," Merida explained.
Councilwoman Suzie Lipps inquired about the specifics of the program, such as duration, objectives and the finances involved.
"I'd like to see a written proposal as to the goals, the vision, the expectations, the assessment and what is going to happen in three months," she said. "I'd like to see a little bit more of the specifics and particulars in writing so that we can absorb it and truly evaluate it."
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Martinsville Mayor Kenny Costin agreed with Lipps's request. He also reiterated that there is no signed contract at this time. This is a session-by-session commitment.
Lastly, the mayor shared that the city's Fourth of July parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 4 at the John Wooden Middle School, located at 109 East Garfield Avenue.
Board of Works & Safety: Water tank maintenance
The Martinsville Board of Works & Safety approved three separate contracts totaling $73,818.13 during its meeting Monday night. The proposals aim to provide maintenance services to two water tanks across the city. The work will be completed by Leary Construction Company, which specializes in water tank maintenance.
The first contract involves pressure washing the exterior of the water tower located on north Sycamore Street. Other work will include applying repairs to the site's interior coatings. This storage tank holds one million gallons of water. The contract is worth $64,100.63 and is estimated to take between two and three weeks to complete weather permitting.
The second contract focuses on washing out the interior of a 375,000-gallon water storage tank located on Lincoln Hill Road. This project is expected to take a shorter amount of time to complete, with the current time frame looking at five to seven days. The quoted price is $3,145.
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The third and final contract involves pressure washing the same storage tank on Lincoln Hill Road for a total of $6,572.50. This is not expected to take longer than a week to complete.
The tank on Lincoln Hill Road was originally built in 1994 and received some touchup and maintenance work in 2014.
"It's in need of some touch-ups but not a lot," City Superintendent Mac Dunn said as he discussed the contracts with the mayor and everyone in attendance. "The one million gallon tank on Sycamore Street was built in 2009 and we haven't touched it since. So we're long past due on doing some major things there. They have some interior and exterior work that they're proposing. The mayor and I were out there when they were inspecting it. It is a combination between this construction company and Sherwin Williams that took a look at the tanks and told us what we needed."
No specific start date was confirmed for any of these contracts. Parking will be prohibited in areas close to the water tanks while work is being completed.
"Ideally, we ought to be looking at our water tanks every five years, and really do the inspection and maintenance," Dunn said.
The board also approved two sewer adjustment applications. The first service address is 460 South Main Street for a total of $486.43. The second address is 409 South Colfax Street for a total of $85.57.
Contact reporter Tyler Haughn at thaughn@reporter-times.com.