Author Archives: Hannah Scott-Carter

Goshen completes lead service line inventory, meeting EPA standards and deadline

The City of Goshen has successfully met the Water Service Line Inventory requirements set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after conducting an extensive campaign to determine the material of water service lines citywide.

While Goshen’s century-old water system lacked precise records in the early days, the City worked diligently as far back as 2016 to inventory the material of all water service lines to comply with state and federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements. The City’s Engineering Department, in partnership with the Water and Sewer Department, has used utility records, home visits, self-reporting, and online surveys to determine the material of over 50% of Goshen’s service lines—serving more than 6,000 households.

To establish piping materials for the remaining service lines, the City teamed up with Abonmarche Consultants to perform pothole excavations at 400 representative locations, allowing crews to visually inspect both sides of the shut-off valve. Through this coordinated effort, and the assistance of BlueConduit’s industry-leading predictive analytics, the team will be able to assign a material probability to each unidentified service line with 95% confidence. The City submitted its comprehensive inventory to state agencies earlier this week, ahead of the October 16th deadline.

Proactive safety measures for City of Goshen residents
Long-serving Water and Sewer utility staff confirmed that while older sections of the City contain galvanized water service lines connected by small “goosenecks” — short, flexible lead pipe sections measuring 2 feet or less—they have never found full-length lead pipes that are common in other communities. Currently, goosenecks are not required to be replaced due to their minimal length and lesser impact on water systems.

To protect residents, the City regularly conducts targeted sampling of at-risk homes and has consistently found lead levels in drinking water below thresholds set by the EPA and IDEM. Although the risk of lead exposure remains low based on current testing, Goshen’s Water Utility continues to work on reducing any potential risks by updating its infrastructure.

A team effort for compliance
Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty praised City staff for their forward thinking and dedication, not only in meeting the EPA inventory deadline but also in protecting the health of Goshen residents.

“This has been a considerable and widespread undertaking by our water, utilities, and engineering personnel to ensure the federal deadline is met, our water service lines are safe, and our neighbors are informed,” Leichty said. “The EPA provided us with an aggressive and comprehensive timeline, and our staff and partners rose to the challenge.”

The City is also replacing goosenecks and galvanized steel service lines discovered during Public Works projects, such as road reconstructions or water main upgrades. As the inventory of service line materials progresses, City staff will use this information to make informed decisions on future infrastructure projects that maximize water system benefits while responsibly managing ratepayer and taxpayer funds.

Looking ahead, Goshen Water Utility remains committed to modernizing its infrastructure and ensuring clean and safe drinking water for all residents.

Helpful Links:

Revised Lead and Copper Rule | US EPA

LEAD-SAFE GIS Interactive Map of the City of Goshen at https://leadsafe-goshenindiana.hub.arcgis.com/pages/inform, where the piping materials serving their home or any Goshen Water System customer can be found.

Lead Poisoning Prevention Program | Elkhart County Health Department

Goshen Parks and Recreation opens new Peace Garden at Reith Interpretive Center 

The City of Goshen’s Parks and Recreation Department held a public dedication and opening of its new Peace Garden at the Reith Interpretive Center, 410 W. Plymouth Ave., on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. 

The garden was dedicated by former Goshen Mayor Mike Puro and his wife, Laurie Tweddale, in memory of their daughter-in-law, Satu Annikki Riikonen. 

The Peace Garden features five chimes, ranging from 30 to 90 inches, tuned to a major pentatonic scale and hung from a 100-year-old white oak tree. The space also includes landscaped paths and benches for visitors to enjoy the chimes. 

This new green space provides the community with a place to relax, find peace, and enjoy nature. 

‘We did whatever it took.’ Goshen resident Todd Eby reflects on relief flights after Hurricane Helene

When Todd Eby saw a Facebook post from a friend flying relief supplies into North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, he immediately took action. His involvement started with a single flight, but it quickly grew into a full-scale relief effort, with Eby flying supplies to disaster-stricken areas.

Eby reached out to Grant Baker, and together they coordinated their first flight into North Carolina. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, they realized the enormity of the crisis and decided to keep going. Their initial mission expanded into a full day of flying eight legs, delivering critical supplies to areas in desperate need.

“We saw civilian efforts and grassroots organizations working tirelessly to provide relief,” he said. “That really motivated us to continue.”

Eby joined a fleet of small planes and private helicopters, all delivering resources to hard-to-reach communities. The devastation was overwhelming — clothing stuck 30 feet up in trees, houses destroyed, and livestock swept away.

Determined to ensure the supplies reached the right hands, Eby found a trusted contact on the ground to oversee distribution. He continued flying missions as part of a larger volunteer effort. Initially working with a civilian group, which later changed its name, Eby continues to verify the exact details.

Meanwhile, the Goshen community rallied behind Eby’s efforts. Locals showed up with cash donations and supplies, eager to contribute. Remarkably, the operation ran without support from major organizations, relying solely on volunteers driven by a shared desire to help.

As the situation in North Carolina evolved, Eby adapted. When a request for insulin came in, he quickly coordinated with a doctor and sourced a large supply, ensuring the life-saving medicine reached those who needed it.

“At times, it felt like I was running a black market,” Eby joked of the fast-paced, informal nature of their operations. “But we did whatever it took to get people what they needed as quickly as possible.”

Though floodwaters receded, the damage remained widespread. Eby saw firsthand the long-term impact on communities still grappling with the destruction.

Eby stays in touch with some of the people he helped and continues to find ways to support them. He takes pride in his role during the relief efforts, showing how community-driven efforts can make a powerful difference in times of crisis.

“It was exhausting,” he said of the experience, “but incredibly rewarding.”

Goshen Fire Chief Dan Sink named Indiana Fire Chief of the Year

Goshen Fire Chief Dan Sink has been named Indiana Fire Chief of the Year by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association at the Indiana Emergency Response Conference Awards on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Noblesville, Ind. The awards recognize exceptional achievements by public safety professionals in Indiana. 

“I am both honored and humbled to receive the award for Fire Chief of the Year,” said Chief Dan Sink. “What makes this so very special is that the nomination comes from the peers you work with in fire service. I am further honored to represent the Goshen Fire Department and the City of Goshen.”

Sink, who has served the Goshen Fire Department for more than 40 years, became chief in September 2005 after stints as assistant chief and EMS chief. 

“Chief Sink’s leadership and dedication have profoundly impacted the safety of Goshen,” Mayor Gina Leichty said. “He is truly deserving of this recognition.” 

During Sink’s tenure, the department assumed responsibility for the Elkhart Township Fire Department, initiated plans for a new fire station, and launched the Goshen Fire Academy, which recently graduated its first class. 

This past August, the GFD, along with the city, partnered with Goshen Community Schools to create the first Fire and EMS Pathway Program to enable students from Goshen High School to complete fire and EMS training and earn necessary certifications through Ivy Tech to fulfill all requisite skills required to be hired as a firefighter or an EMT. 

“We always look for opportunities to serve the Goshen community beyond our daily emergency response, and being able to provide education to Goshen students has been a dream of ours,” Sink said of the program.  

Sink plans to retire in November. He will be succeeded by current GFD Assistant Chief Anthony Powell. 

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration returns for third year

The City of Goshen Community Relations Commission will host its third annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at the Goshen Theater on Monday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

This year’s event will feature a presentation by Doug Peconge, ARPA Project Manager and citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, along with drum and dance performances featuring dancers from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Ribbon Town Singers. Peconge will discuss the Miami Tribe’s journey to regain land in Fort Wayne.

Featured Presenters:

Doug Peconge
Peconge, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, has worked with the tribe’s Cultural Resources Office since 2015. He currently oversees a 45-acre property in Fort Wayne, known as peehkihkayonki (The Beautiful Place), focusing on food, health, wellness, and cultural preservation.

Ribbon Town Singers
Founded in 2003, the Ribbon Town Singers are led by John Topash Warren (Potawatomi) of South Bend, Ind. The group is named after “Zēnba-Odanek,” the Potawatomi term for South Bend, where Potawatomi people once traded furs. The group will showcase both traditional and contemporary dance styles.
For more information, visit pokagonband-nsn.gov/our-culture.

Final summer brush collection begins next week

The final brush pick-up of the year will begin next week on Monday, September 30th.

During scheduled brush collections, the Street Department will make only one pass through the city to pick up brush. Please have your brush by the front curb, but not in the street, by that first day at 7 a.m. Brush will not be picked up in alleys. The piles of brush should be trash-free. Crews cannot access the piles if blocked by vehicles.

The brush trailer program now runs throughout the year, weather permitting. The trailer can be reserved for the removal of large amounts of brush.  If a homeowner is trimming their own bushes or trees, they can schedule a trailer to be dropped off to put their brush in.  This program is for the homeowner only and is not to be used by private landscaping or tree-trimming professionals. This program is free of charge as long as only brush is placed in the trailer. 

For more information regarding the Brush Trailer, as well as Dial-A-Trailer, go to goshenindiana.org/street-department.

2024 Fall Fire Hydrant Flushing begins Monday, September 30

Click here for an interactive map of showing the hydrant flushing schedule.

The City of Goshen Utilities will begin flushing fire hydrants for the fall season starting Monday, September 30 through Friday, October 4.

From Monday, September 30, through Friday, October 4, the Goshen Water & Sewer Department will be flushing hydrants from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the upper-pressure zone, which is everything northeast of U.S. 33 and the Norfolk Southern tracks

Also, on Monday, September 30, crews will start nighttime flushing from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will begin at Madison Street & 10th Street, heading south to the city limits and between the Norfolk Southern tracks and U.S. 33 to the city limits south.

On Tuesday, October 1, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., workers will flush hydrants between Cottage Avenue and 10th Street between the Norfolk Southern tracks heading south to the city limits and between Lincolnway East and the Norfolk Southern tracks heading east to the city limits.

On Wednesday, October 2, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., workers will flush hydrants between Pike Street and the city limits south and between N Greene Road and Cottage Avenue.

On Thursday, October 3, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., workers will be flushing between Norfolk Southern and the city limits to the south and between N Greene Road and the city limits to the west.

The Water & Sewer Department asks that you avoid doing laundry on the day the flushing is close to your home due to the rust that is being removed from the water mains. If you do have a problem with your laundry, please call the Water & Sewer Department; they will have some special soap for you.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Goshen Water and Sewer at 574-534-5306.

Goshen’s 2024 Trick or Treat hours announced

The City of Goshen’s 2024 suggested trick-or-treat hours are Thursday, October 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For trick-or-treaters:

  • Kindly adhere to the designated trick-or-treat hours.
  • Visit homes with lit porch lights only, and never enter unfamiliar houses.

For treat providers and adults:

  • If you prefer not to participate, kindly switch off your porch lights.
  • Motorists, exercise caution by driving slowly and staying alert for pedestrians.
  • Ensure your driveway and porch are well-lit, and remove any potential tripping hazards from walkways when distributing treats.

City Offices closed for Labor Day

The City of Goshen offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day.

Additionally, all trash and recycling services will be delayed one day due to the holiday. Normal service will resume on Monday, September 9. The schedule for the week of September 2 is below:

  • Residents with normal pickup on Monday will have service on Tuesday, September 3.
  • Residents with normal pickup on Tuesday will have service on Wednesday, September 4.
  • Residents with normal pickup on Wednesday will have service on Thursday, September 5.
  • Residents with normal pick up on Thursday will have service on Friday, September 6.
  • Residents with normal pick up on Friday will have service on Saturday, September 7.

For more information on trash collection, visit goshenindiana.org/trash-collection.