Mayor Jeremy Stutsman is pleased to announce the creation of a new Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program, which will help with the assessment, remediation and redevelopment of potential brownfield properties.

Grant and loan money (maximum of $500,000 per grant or loan), is now available for developers in both the private and public sector who own, lease or have a purchase agreement in place for a brownfield property and who desire to assess or remediate it.

Examples of what the fund may be used for are the cleanup of brownfield sites, environmental assessments, area-wide planning for brownfield-impacted neighborhoods and corridors, outreach and community engagement, and remedial action and cleanup activities necessary to protect human health and the environment in connection the redevelopment of a brownfield property.

A full copy of the Policy and Procedure Manual can be found at the Department of Community Development, 204 E. Jefferson St., and at goshenindiana.org/redevelopment.

Funding comes from a $1 million grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency for establishing the program. An advisory committee has been formed to review applications and make recommendations to the Goshen Board of Public Works, which will oversee the program. The committee members, appointed by Mayor Stutsman, will be a member of City staff, Vince Turner and Daragh Deegan.

Administrative work will be completed by the Department of Community Development Staff.

“Goshen Community Development staff will provide technical assistance to guide property owners through the process,” said Mark Brinson, Director of Community Development. “Goshen has a proven record of developing brownfield sites and this fund is another tool we can use to attract quality development projects to our community.”

Due to high winds bringing some tree limbs down and popular demand, the Goshen Street Department will be doing a round of brush pickup the week of March 25. Have your brush by the front curb, but not in the street, by that Monday morning at 7 a.m. Brush will not be picked up in alleys and the piles should be trash free. Crews cannot access the piles if blocked by vehicles.

Please note that the Street Department will not pick up leaves at this time, only during the April 29 brush collection (additional dates and information will be announced soon).

The Street Department will also start taking reservations on March 25 for brush trailers. The earliest one can reserve a trailer for is April 1. To reserve a trailer or for more information, contact the street department at 534.9711 or streets@goshencity.com.

The Goshen Parks & Recreation Department is having an open House Friday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate their new office building at 524 East Jackson St.

Please join the staff for a tour of the new building and light refreshments!

The Goshen Fire Department will conduct an outdoor warning siren test Tuesday, March 19, at 10:15 a.m. as part of a statewide communication systems test during Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana, which goes from March 17 to 23. The test will be postponed to Wednesday, March 20, if weather conditions warrant.

During an actual emergency: Residents and businesses should immediately respond to the outdoor warning sirens by taking cover, along with their pets, in designated storm-resistant locations, and continue to monitor sources for emergency information.

Now is the time for residents without a tornado shelter of their own to determine where they will go in case of a tornado warning. Residents who have an appropriate shelter are encouraged to be open to neighbors without shelter by allowing them to share theirs, if approached.

The City of Goshen tests outdoor warning sirens every Thursday at 2 p.m. to make sure they are functioning and make repairs if needed, so we are ready during an emergency.

The National Weather Service (NWS) coordinates Severe Weather Preparedness Week to educate the public about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and to help everyone be prepared when severe weather occurs. Every day of the week will focus on a different topic. For a full list of recommended activities for the public, go to weather.gov/ind/SvrWxWeek2019.

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning:

• A watch signals that a tornado is possible in the area. During a watch, you should discuss emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room.
• A warning means you need to take action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by the weather radar. Move to your safe room.

In the occurrence of severe weather, this is what everyone’s role is in the watch/warning process:

• The NWS issues official warnings when dangerous, damaging weather is imminent and activated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration All-Hazards radio and the Emergency Alert System, sounding alarms on radios, media stations and pre-set electronic devices. The NWS also receives damage reports from spotters and relays reports to the media.
• Local officials activate outdoor warning sirens and deploy responders to damage areas.
• The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) activates the Emergency Operations Center and coordinates with local officials. The IDHS also deploys personnel or resources to damage areas upon local requests.
• The American Red Cross may deploy to the IDHS Emergency Operations Center and may deploy staff to damage areas.
• The media broadcasts NWS warnings through crawl TV messages, texts and social media. TV meteorologists enhance details on locations threatened. Journalists report live from damage areas or broadcast calls from spotters.

Other participating agencies on Severe Weather Preparedness Week will be the National Weather Service, in conjunction with the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the American Red Cross, and Amateur Radio Operators.

For more information about Severe Weather Preparedness Week, go to weather.gov/ind/SvrWxWeek2019.

Contractor Walsh & Kelly is scheduled to begin construction on the First Street Reconstruction Project that week of March 12.

The new Road closure is for the first phase of construction from Rock Run Creek to the north side of the intersection of the First Street and Oakridge Avenue. This This segment of the road is expected to be open to traffic by June 3, 2019.

The bike trail that runs through Oakridge Cemetery will also be affected. Detour signs will be placed for bicyclists to follow.

For more updates, follow the City of Goshen online at goshenindiana.org or facebook at facebook.com/CityOfGoshen.

The following is a news release from the Michiana Area Council of Governments

Did you know that our region boosts over 937 miles of bicycle and pedestrian facilities? By this summer, some of these trails will even be able to take you from Mishawaka to Niles, Michigan. Elkhart County is already home to three trails that connect Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana for over 25 miles. Other communities in our region, such as Plymouth and Warsaw, tout scenic pathways along rivers, lakes, as well as through downtowns. With so many unique pathways – our trail network is a huge asset to our region and our communities – and this asset is continually expanding, connecting individual trails and surrounding communities.

In order to recognize our trail network as a whole system and to promote what our region has to offer, the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) is partnering with organizations and local governments in Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana and in Niles, Michigan to develop a Regional Trail Branding and Wayfinding system.

The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on three Regional Trail Brand options that will help give our trail system an overall identity. A public open house will be held on March 26 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a brief presentation at 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, in the South Bend Salvation Army Kroc Center. Everyone is invited to learn about the process and provide feedback on the regional brand.

The Elkhart County Clerk’s Office will be hosting four public demonstration nights to show off the new electronic voting equipment that will be used at the Goshen 2019 Primary Elections.

At the demonstrations, the public will be able to cast a non-official ballot so they can see every aspect of how the new equipment will work. 

• February 28 at the Goshen Public Library at 6pm
• March 4 at the Elkhart Public Library at 6:30pm
• March 7 at the Middlebury Public Library at 6pm
• March 19 at the Nappanee Public Library at 6pm

For more information about the demonstrations and new equipment, contact the Elkhart County Clerk’s Office at 535.6469.