The free tickets Mayor Jeremy Stutsman and City Council had secured to America’s Freedom Fest —a day-long event of airshows and fireworks Saturday, July 1, to celebrate Independence Day—have all been picked up at City Hall. There are no more free tickets available at this time.

Information for purchasing tickets may be found online at americasfreedomfest.org.

Spring and summer bring mosquitoes. “How many” depends on how wet the season is. The City will continue its program of placing larvicide in catch basins, which are potential breeding sites. It is one of the most cost-effective measures the City can take.

The City has not sprayed for mosquitoes for many years—and will not do so this year. The West Nile virus has not been a big problem in Elkhart County. But an “ounce of prevention” is still worthwhile.

Goshen residents are asked to help reduce the mosquito population by removing any places where standing water becomes stagnant and breeds mosquitoes. Cleaning gutters and downspouts, disposing of old tires, and cleaning up trash piles that hold moisture are important measures.

Of course, once the little “buggers” hatch, there is no better protection than staying indoors at the times of day when mosquitoes are most active. Or use insect repellent containing the ingredient DEET.

For more information, contact Water & Sewer Distribution Office at 534.5306 or waterseweroffice@goshencity.com.

On Tuesday, June 27, Rieth-Riley Construction will open the newly constructed section of Pike Street from the Elkhart River bridge to Second Street and close Pike Street between Second Street and Main Street. Third Street will remain open to through traffic. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. The post office can be accessed from the west side via Pike Street. Work will be phased to allow continued ADA accessible pedestrian access on Pike Street.

On June 27th, Rieth-Riley will begin tearing out the existing roadway. HRP construction will then begin storm, water main, and sanitary replacement. Work will conclude with reconstruction of the roadway. Phase 2 work will take about 3 1/2 months to complete. As the project progresses, the City will be issuing future notices.

For the most up-to-date information, check out the City’s website, goshenindiana.org, to sign up for automatic email notices of construction updates, and like the Facebook page of The City of Goshen, Indiana. Project updates can also be found on the INDOT Northeast Facebook
and Twitter pages.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The US 33 North Connector Project includes reconstruction and widening of Pike Street between the Elkhart River bridge and Main Street. Phase 1 of the Pike Street widening from the Elkhart River bridge up to Second Street is almost complete. Phase 2 work from Second Street to Main Street will begin June 27th and will include water main, sanitary, and storm system replacement, and reconstruction of the roadway. At the conclusion of phase 2, the entire section of Pike Street from the bridge to Main Street will receive the final surface course of asphalt.

As the 4th of July holiday approaches, it is important that Goshen residents be aware of fireworks regulations. A local city ordinance was adopted in 2007 at the urging of residents concerned about neighborhood safety and noise. Regulation is controlled by parameters imposed in state legislation.

Consumer fireworks are allowed by state legislation and local ordinance from 5:00 p.m. until two hours after sunset (or until approximately 11:20 p.m.) from June 29 thru July 9, except July 4 they are allowed from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight. Any other times require Board of Works approval and must be on real estate owned by a government entity. Fines for violations may be up to $500 per incident.

To report a violation of the fireworks ordinance, citizens are welcome to call the non-emergency dispatch phone number—533.4151. The caller must supply an exact address of where the violation is occurring in order for a police officer to respond effectively to the call.

Fireworks NOT limited to certain dates and times by local ordinance include dipped sticks or wire sparklers. However, total pyrotechnic composition may not exceed 100 grams/item and chlorate or perchlorate salts may not exceed 5 grams/item. Other items NOT regulated by local ordinance include cylindrical or cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, snakes or glow worms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers (i.e. party poppers, booby traps, snappers, trick matches, cigarette loads).

Local regulations apply to “consumer fireworks” as defined in state statutes. Such fireworks include certain small ground or aerial devices designed to produce visible and/or audible effects by combustion. They are required to comply with the construction, chemical composition and labeling regulations of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission under 16CFR1507. Ground devices (firecrackers, salutes and chasers) are limited to 50 milligrams of explosive composition. Aerial devices (sky rockets, missile type rockets, helicopters or spinners, roman candles, mines and shells) are limited to 130 milligrams of explosive composition. Larger devices are not allowed under local ordinance and require state permitting.

The Goshen City Court Clerk’s Office and the Goshen City Probation Office will be closed for training purposes on the following dates:

• Friday, June 23
• Tuesday, June 27
• Wednesday, June 28

Normal office hours will be in effect on Monday, June 26, and will resume a regular schedule Thursday, June 29.

For more information, please contact the city court offices at 533.9365.

On Monday June 19, 2017, the water was shut off due to a damaged water line. A boil order is being issued. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management requires the water utility to issue a boil water order for the affected area of: Market Center Plaza.

Once two consecutive water samples have been taken 24 hours apart and analyzed for the presence of bacteria and are found to be absent of bacteria, the boil order will be lifted. Notice of the boil order cancellation will be distributed via a customer flier to the affected areas. For further information or to report specific service concerns, please call Mindy Kyle at the Goshen Water Department at 534.5306.

City water within the affected area should not be consumed without first following prescribed boiling procedures. The water remains safe for bathing, laundry, and restroom facilities. Cleaning dishes with a dishwasher is acceptable if it has a sanitizing cycle. Hand washed dishes should be rinsed with boiled or bottled water.

The northbound right-turn lane on S.R. 15 at Kercher Road will be closed for construction work starting tomorrow, June 15, and will be completed on Friday, June 16. Vehicles wishing to turn right onto Kercher Road will still be able to do so from the through lane.

On May 6 the Goshen Fire Department, the American Red Cross of Northern Indiana and the West Goshen Neighborhood Association spent the morning inspecting and installing detectors throughout the West Goshen Neighborhood.

This Thursday, June 15, the Fire Department and the Red Cross will be going to homes in the Chamberlain Neighborhood to inspect and install more smoke detectors from 5:30 to 8 p.m. They will walk door-to-door, offering to inspect any current smoke detectors in the household and installing new ones if needed. Residents of the houses visited will also be asked a few questions related to fire safety awareness.

This is part of the Fire Department’s efforts to promote fire safety and engage with the community. Residents in the Chamberlain Neighborhood interested in having their smoke detector inspected, or a new one installed simply need to be in their home Thursday, June 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

For any questions related to the upcoming smoke detector installation, residents may contact the Fire Department at 533.7878 or Chamberlain Neighborhood Association President Nathan Mateer Rempel at 238.4604.