However, due to budgetary cuts in the Street Department the duties have become impossible to fulfill.  The Street Department has seen a reduction in workforce from approximately 28 employees in 2008 to 8 employees today, which equates to approximately a 70% reduction in workforce for the Department.  Unfortunately, 8 employees cannot perform the same duties which used to be done by 28 employees in the Street Department.

In recognition of the problem facing the City and the Street Department, Mayor England and the contractor for the City (“SIWS”) responsible for collecting residential household waste have been in negotiations.  After conducting these negotiations, the following proposed addendums to the current contract are to be considered by the City Council to assist the City.    The current contract with the contractor is scheduled to end December 31, 2012.  The contractor has made the following proposed addendums to assist the City: (1) Contractor will roll back the rate charged to $15.18 from the current amount of $16.03, (2) the rate charged the City by the Contractor will remain $15.18 until 2015, (3) Contractor will terminate any future Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment which it is entitled to under current contract, (4) Contractor will collect three bulk items per week per household (which will include one passenger car tire per week as one of the bulk items), (5) Contractor will collect yard waste which is properly bundled and placed by residents per specifications, (6) Contractor will install lids recently purchased by City to replace broken ones at no cost to the City or the residents, and (7) Contractor will implement maintenance and repair program for remaining lids on the cans owned by the City.

Mayor England has praised SIWS in the past for their work on behalf of the City and their willingness to find ways to assist the City and the residents.  Mayor England believes the proposed addendums to the contract will provide greater service to the citizens of New Albany at no additional cost and will allow the Street Department to focus on the duties related to the City streets.

If the addendums to the contract are accepted by the City Council, Mayor England intends to propose a reduction in the sanitation fee currently being charged to the residents by the City.  Mayor England stated “some people in this community are suffering with financial difficulties and the opportunity to pass on a savings and reduction to the citizens for a service they receive is a welcome relief.”   England further stated, “not only will the citizens be able to receive increased and better service, we will have the opportunity to reduce the citizens financial burden in the process.”

Mayor England stated “I am pleased to be able to announce this opportunity to provide gainful summertime employment to the needy high school students of New Albany.  I encourage any hard working but unemployed junior or senior attending New Albany High School to apply.”

The source of funding for this program is unused Riverfront Events funding.  “Our excellent volunteers that run the events at the Riverfront Amphitheatre have done so without a paid coordinator this year.  My wife, Shelle England, who is also the chairman of the Riverfront Events Committee, suggested using the surplus funding for summer youth employment.  Several Common Council members have also expressed an interest in such a program if a funding source could be identified.”

Eligible applicants must reside in the city of New Albany; they must be enrolled as juniors or seniors at New Albany High School for the 2010-2011school year; they must be currently unemployed; they must be physically fit; they must pass a drug screening test; and they must be capable of working from 8:00 am to 12:00 Noon weekdays, beginning Wednesday, July 14^th through Tuesday, August 10^th.

Interested students may apply by completing a Summer Employment Application at the New Albany Human Resources Office, Room 324 City-County Building, 311 Hauss Square, by 4:00 pm on Monday, July 12, 2010.  Additional information may be provided by contacting 948-5333 extension 130.

Contact SIWS at (812) 948-5356 with further questions.

1)  Develop a strategy for improving energy efficiency strategies for city-owned facilities; and

2)  Implement a pilot program of 20 residential and 5 small commercial energy audits.

Mayor England has hailed the EECBG and the above projects as “an important first step toward implementing energy efficiency strategies within New Albany and Floyd County.”

Mayor England has also announced that, Keramida, Inc., the energy strategy consultant selected by the City to prepare the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy for city-owned facilities, will be conducting a public meeting and information forum this coming Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Cardinal Ritter House, 1218 East Oak Street, New Albany, Indiana.

Draft copies of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy will be distributed at this meeting.  Representatives of Keramida, Inc., will be on hand to explain the study methodology and Strategy document.  Citizens and interested persons are invited to attend and to ask questions or make comments.

The Oakwood area is a top priority for drainage improvements, according to criteria set forth in the recently adopted New Albany Storm Water Master Plan. England, the Storm Water Board and New Albany City Council at various times and venues have promised Oakwood-area residents that the project was of high priority.

“The Oakwood subdivision – specifically the Castlewood Drive area – is one of the most needed drainage improvements in our city,” England said. “The Storm Water Board and other city staff look forward to speaking one-on-one with area residents about the great improvements we currently are working towards.”

The meeting will begin at 7p.m. in the church. Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church is located at 918 Mount Tabor Road. Members of the Storm Water Board and related staff will be in attendance to describe the status of the plans and to answer questions posed by the public.

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Summer Concert Series: Eight Inch Elvis

Eight Inch Elvis, a six-piece, rock variety band will perform Friday at New Albany’s Riverfront Amphitheater as a part of the city’s Summer Concert Series.

The group plays something for everyone, from classic rock to new country, modern pop and your favorite dance and party songs.

Saturday, May 29

Performing Arts Series: Floyd Central Theater to perform Rivertown Cabaret

The award winning Floyd Central Theatre Arts Department under the direction of Chris Bundy will present an ecclectic evening of music and comedy on the New Albany Riverfront Stage on the evening of May 29th at 7:30p.m., part of the city’s Performing Arts Series.

Part one of the evening is entitled, “The Rivertown Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and features songs and comedy with a pioneer flair takin on the fun of an old time traveling medicine show.  Some of the featured songs include, Raise-A-Ruckus; Oh Susannah; Down ToThe River To Pray; My Sweatheart’s The Man-In-The-Moon; and a large selection of songs from the Broadway musical, Big River.

Following a short intermission, the troupe of talented performers will continue the evening with a Broadway Cabaret featuring hits from more contemporary musicals.

The performance is made possible through a grant from the Horseshoe Foundation.

Both events will begin at 7:30p.m., and are free to the public.

At the meeting, City officials will explain the preliminary plans to improve McDonald Lane and ask the public to provide input and feedback.

“We’re excited to be moving forward on this project that will benefit so many residents,” said Mayor Doug England. “Public input is vital to ensure the street improvements are the best fit for our community.”

The proposed upgrades to McDonald Lane will be primarily funded with federal money. Planned changes include revamping the existing pavement to a two-lane roadway with curbs and a new storm sewer system. Safety improvements for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, including realignment of the existing 90-degree curves, the addition of turn?lanes, as well as the incorporation of sidewalks and/or a pedestrian pathway.

Survey work has already been completed for the project and environmental studies and preliminary design of various improvement options have begun. The project is expected to be ready for construction in 2013.

“We invite all members of our community to join us at the kick?off meeting,” England said. “We need your input because early involvement by residents will help make this a better project.”

Only residents, he added, can provide the on-the-ground concerns of those who travel or live near McDonald Lane. The meeting will feature an informal open-house session where interested persons will have an opportunity to view project displays, receive informational handouts, and talk to project representatives one-on-one while having questions and concerns addressed. Officials from the City of New Albany, along with their design consultants from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc. will be on hand to answer questions. The public will also have the opportunity to provide written comments on the improvement project.

The City would like to encourage the community to attend this public information meeting and to learn more about this project. We look forward to meeting with you and soliciting your input as this project continues to develop.

Details

WHAT: McDonald Lane Kick?Off Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 6:30 p.m. (Brief formal presentation at 6:45pm)
WHERE: Our Lady of Perpertual Help, 1752 Scheller Lane, New Albany, Indiana 47150
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Please contact John Rosenbarger with the City of New Albany at 948-5333 or email at jrosenbarger@cityofnewalbany.com.

The opening reception for Phase Change: Works in Glass by C. Matthew Szösz will proceed as scheduled at the Carnegie Center tonight from 6-9 pm. Please join us to celebrate this amazing new exhibit.  Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Matthew and the Public Art Project artists.