Mayor’s Youth Council of Plymouth Sees Fruition after Years of Planning

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety provided their support to a local group of students looking to impact the community in a positive way. The Mayor’s Youth Council presented their Adopt-a-Street Project to board members when they met Monday night.

According to the presenters, Vice President Nicole Keller and member Griffin Nate, the council has been trying for more than six years to establish the Adopt-a-Street Project and they now have a concrete proposal in place. The mission statement they provided stated that their main focus is to improve Plymouth for current and future generations by connecting local youth with local government. Continue reading →

Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety & Plymouth City Council Meetings Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the City Council meet tonight to discuss matters impacting the community. The Board of Public Works and Safety meeting will start first at 6 p.m.

Agenda items include a request from the utility superintendent about a water main extension at State Road 17 and W. Lake Avenue as well as an executive order from the city attorney regarding 408 Pierce Street.

Other requests consist of the Chamber of Commerce seeking permission to continue with downtown trick-or-treating this year and a temporary street closing by John Montgomery. The Mayor’s Youth Council will provide a request about the “Adopt a Street” project.

The City Council will convene at 6:30 p.m. or immediately following the adjournment of the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Continue reading →

Safe Routes to School Project to begin in Plymouth Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Safe Routes to School project on Baker Street by the Plymouth schools.

New sidewalks, curbs and gutters will be installed to allow for a better walking path for students on their way to the schools. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety previously approved a bid for just over $300,000 for the project. The city’s share of that is approximately $61,000.

City Engineer Rick Gaul and Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt are going to stress that the contractors from Northern Indiana Contractors stay off the street while they’re working or else they won’t get much done. They will be able to work off the side of the street. Gaul said rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon may delay the project if the crews don’t heed the advice.

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Plymouth BOW, City Council to Meet Tonight at Alternate Location

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will open quotes for a crack seal project and discuss the final change order for the Plymouth-Goshen Trail water main extension project when they meet tonight. They will also approve a resolution regarding Halloween and designating surplus property for sale at auction. The members will also receive an update on the Fourway computer product tower equipment.

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 6 p.m.

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Renovation Causes Relocation of City Meetings

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The renovation of the Plymouth City Building on Michigan Street is set to begin soon. Once the state approves the paperwork, environmental testing will start.

The renovation project will prompt the relocation of city meetings. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the Plymouth City Council meetings will be held at the Plymouth Fire Department Training Classroom beginning Sept. 11. Those attending are asked to use the entrance on the south side of the Plymouth Fire Department building at 111 N. Center Street.

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Plymouth BOW/Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members are anticipated to award a proposal for a short term lease at 220 N. Center Street when they meet tonight. They also plan to discuss a resolution that authorizes the transfer of equipment from the clerk-treasurer’s office to the wastewater utility and transferring equipment to the Plymouth Park Department. In addition, a few requests for street closures and a stop sign will be before the governing body.

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Plymouth Street Projects Continue this Fall

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Plymouth City Engineer Rick Gaul informed the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members this week that several street projects will be contracted out this fall.

“Essentially what we’re looking at doing is having a fall contract,” said Gaul. “I guess most of this list are community crossings projects that we need to get done. What we’re looking at doing is starting as soon as we can this fall. We’ll have 30-some projects.”

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Plymouth Council to Hold Wheel Tax Public Hearing, BOW to Meet

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth City Council members will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed ordinance for a municipal motor vehicle license excise surtax and a municipal wheel tax.

In order to close a significant funding gap within the budget, the city council is considering implementing a wheel tax. At the previous city council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver said the maximum amount that can be charged would bring in approximately $400,000. If the council wishes to adopt a wheel tax, it needs to be approved by Aug. 31. Continue reading →

Plymouth Road to be Closed for Two Days

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

A Plymouth road will be closed for two days for the replacement of a culvert.

Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson told the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members last week that Skylane Drive will be closed today beginning at 8 a.m. until tomorrow at about 5 p.m.

Davidson reported that the culvert is undersized and is the cause of flooding issues in the area.

Inclement weather could delay the project and extend the closure.

Speed Limit Change Approved on Webster Avenue

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The speed limit on Webster Avenue in Plymouth is going to change. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety approved a request last week to lower the speed limit.

Several residents signed a document asking for the reduction of speed as children and residents attend functions at the Webster Center and motorists have been seen speeding down the road. The speed limit is 30 mph, but neighbors in the area report much higher speeds. Drivers also rev engines to get up to that speed and faster as they travel down the road which disturbs neighbors.

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Plymouth Utility Projects Coming Along

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Several ongoing projects with the Plymouth Utility Department are on schedule.

Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson reported to the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety that the wastewater treatment plant is about 70 percent complete. Process equipment start-up was successful and the next major phase is going on this week. The company is ahead of schedule and will be substantially complete by November.

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Plymouth Police Chief Addresses Traffic Flow around Lincoln Jr. High School

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Plymouth City Police Chief David Bacon presented the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members with a solution to a traffic flow issue on school days around the Lincoln Jr. High School.

Chief Bacon said Mayor Mark Senter and City Attorney Sean Surrisi met with the Director of Safety and Security and the Transportation Director from the school corporation to address traffic issues. He said traffic gets snarled around the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up portions of the school day at Lincoln Jr. High School.

“Traffic gets backed up on Gibson onto Liberty so we looked at ways to remedy that,” said Chief Bacon. “One solution is no parking on the south side of Gibson from Liberty Street to the circle drive. That will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days only.”

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Plymouth BOW, City Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members have quite a few items to discuss when they meet for their regular meeting tonight.

A bid will be awarded for the Richter Road water main extension project and Building Commissioner Keith Hammonds will discuss an order of action of an unsafe building at 1101 W. LaPorte Street. Police Chief David Bacon will talk about parking on the south side of Gibson Street and the members will be ratifying an executive order that restricts parking near the Mayor’s office on Garro Street and the alley. A speed limit change on Webster Avenue will also be presented to the board.

The Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 6 p.m.

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Plymouth BOW and Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will meet tonight where bids will be opened for the renovation of the city building.

The project includes construction of improvements and expansion of the city office at 124 N. Michigan Street including the clerk-treasurer’s office, mayor’s office, city attorney’s office and the council chambers.

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Plymouth Board of Works and Public Safety Takes Lease Proposal Under Advisement

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Emanuel Reese submitted a proposal to the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety for his business this week.

According to Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi, Reese has added new BBQ grills to his operation at Reese’s Family Ribs at 208 Water Street. He asked the city to formally lease the two parking spaces that he is currently using for his grills. Surrisi says Reese has agreed to pay $10 a month to rent the parking spaces plus semi-annual taxes, as the city-owned property becomes taxable once it is put to commercial use. He asked that the lease begin July 1.

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Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety Accepts Land Sale Proceeds

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Mayor Mark Senter (L) accepts a check on behalf of the city from David Miller and Patty Van Vactor Wright

Representatives from Van Vactor Farms, Inc. presented the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety a check this week for their portion of the proceeds of the land sale at the techFarms site.

Patty Van Vactor Wright and David Miller presented a giant check in the amount of $111,493 for the city’s Monetary Gift Fund.

The techFarm is located on Miller Drive and Pioneer Drive on the west side of Plymouth and consists of 20 acres zoned industrial and 11.3 acres zoned as commercial land. The city helped extend infrastructure to the park in 2010 so the site is ready for development.

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