Author Archives: Sharon

TRUCK RESTRICTIONS: FRANKLIN STREET

Trucks over 40 feet in length are now prohibited from entering Franklin Street from Main to 9th Streets. “No truck” signs will be placed along the road to alert trucks of this restriction.

As the 9th St Corridor project progresses, the City has gotten more requests and complaints about trucks in the area. As we try to establish sod and amenities along 9th, it has become more apparent how large trucks utilize the area. Due to the configuration of the businesses on the east side of the railroad tracks, the Engineering Department doesn’t feel that restricting trucks completely from 9th Street is realistic at this time.

However, if large trucks are prevented from turning and maneuvering the side streets off of 9th and off of Main, it will help prevent trucks from running over signs and over the new sod that has been placed.

STRING LIGHT INSTALLATION: MAIN STREET

The string lights along Main Street were severely damaged by the hail back in June, prompting the Downtown Economic Improvement District and the City to replace the string lights on the downtown buildings.

Some parking spaces along Main Street will be blocked for short periods of time between Monday, October 7 and Friday, October 11. Work will begin on the east side of Main Street at Jefferson St. and proceed north.

ELKHART COUNTY PLANNING AERIAL MOSQUITO SPRAY

The following press release was issued by the Elkhart County Health Department. For further inquiries about it, please contact the Health Department or County Commissioners.

The Elkhart County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) have been working together to monitor eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) activity in Elkhart County. So far in 2019, a total of eight horses have tested positive for EEE, along with one mosquito sample pool in Elkhart County.

Due to the detection of EEE activity in Elkhart County and the occurrence of human EEE cases in nearby Michigan counties, the Elkhart County Commissioners have decided to perform targeted mosquito control utilizing aerial spraying to help protect residents from EEE. While rare, EEE virus can cause serious illness and has a fatality rate of about 33 percent in people.

The horse cases are concentrated south of Bristol and west of Middlebury in an area often referred to as the “fruit hills.” The positive mosquito pool was located in the northwest quadrant of the county near Boot Lake. These areas include numerous freshwater, hardwood swamp and bog areas and will be targeted with aerial spraying.

Mosquito control professionals will apply an approved pesticide, Dibrom, as an ultra-low volume (ULV) spray. ULV sprayers dispense very fine aerosol droplets that stay suspended in the air and kill adult mosquitoes on contact. This is a tactic other states, including Michigan, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have recently employed to combat EEE. Dibrom has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1959 for use in the United States. Dibrom immediately begins to break down upon release of the spray droplets in the open air and breaks down rapidly in water and in sunlight.

The decision to implement the additional control measure was made by the County Commissioners in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ISDH, Elkhart County Health Department, Purdue University Ag Extension office, and Emergency Management. Protecting the public health is the primary goal of the decision.

County officials are targeting Wednesday October 2, at dusk, for the application. Thursday October 3 is the backup application date if weather prevents the Wednesday application. Residents should take actions to protect ornamental fishponds and beehives. Organic farms registered on Field Watch will not be sprayed. If an organic farm operation is not registered with Field Watch, contact Jeff Burbrink at Purdue University Extension, Goshen, 574-533-0554, by Tuesday afternoon.

While the spraying is expected to kill 90 percent of mosquitoes, Elkhart County residents are urged to continue to take precautions until the first hard freeze, including:

  • Avoiding areas where mosquitoes breed,
  • Staying indoors when mosquitoes are active,
  • Utilizing an EPA-registered insect repellent; and
  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants in areas of high mosquito activity.

In addition, residents are urged to check their property for mosquito breeding sites and take the following actions:

  • Empty containers that are holding water,
  • Unclog gutters,
  • Keep overgrown vegetation mowed,
  • Dispose of old tires
  • Maintain screens in doorways and windows.
  • Swimming pools should be maintained clean and operational
  • Ornamental ponds should be aerated to prevent the collection of mosquito larvae.

For more information about EEE, visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/easterneguineencephalitis/index.html

MAIN STREET SIDEWALKS

Niblock has been fixing and replacing sidewalks along Main Street over the last several weeks. Originally intending to be completed by Oct. 14, the contractor does not expect for the project to be completed by the original deadline.

The Board of Works approved an extension to November 1 for the completion of the project.

FALL HYDRANT FLUSHING

Goshen Utilities will start the fall hydrant flushing program beginning Monday, October 7, 2019, through First, Oct. 11, weather permitting.

From Monday through Friday, the water department will be flushing during the daylight hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the upper pressure zone, which is everything northeast of US 33 and the Norfolk Southern tracks.

Also on Monday, they will start the nighttime flushing from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. between North Greene Road heading west to the city limits and between the Norfolk Southern tracks to the city limits south.

On Tuesday, Oct. 8 they will start flushing from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Cottage Avenue and 10th Street between Norfolk Southern tracks south to the city limits, and from Lincolnway East and the Norfolk Southern tracks heading east to the city limits.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, they will start flushing from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Pike Street and the city limits south and between North Greene Road and Cottage Avenue.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. they will be flushing between the Norfolk Southern tracks and the city limits to the south, between North Greene Road and the city limits to the west.

The water depart asks that residents avoid doing laundry on the day the water department crews are closest to their home, due to the rust they are removing from the water mains. If you do have a problem with the laundry, please call the water department and they will have some special soap available.

For additional questions, contact the water department’s office at 534-5306.

NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR IN MICHIANA

On October 5 & 6, 2019 and the surrounding weekends, hundreds of people who have gone solar across the nation will open their homes and businesses to engage their communities around the power of solar energy.

Solar homes, businesses, non-profit organizations, municipal buildings, religious institutions, schools, and community solar gardens are all invited to host solar open houses as part of the National Solar Tour.

In Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, these are the locations that will be open during the tour:

SATURDAY, OCT 5:

10 am – 4 pm
Kern Road Mennonite Church
Contact: Victor Myers
18211 Kern Road, South Bend https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2963/

10 am – 12 pm
Goshen College, College Mennonite Church
Contact: Glenn Gilbert
Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaics
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2959/

11 am – 2 pm
Indy Steve
54174 Juday Lake Dr, South Bend
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3860/

12 pm – 2 pm
Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship
Contact: Jennifer Schrock
2509 Berkey Ave., Goshen, Indiana
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3067/

1 – 3 pm
Benton Mennonite Church
Contact: Douglas Kaufman
15350 County Road 44, Goshen, Indiana https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3058/

1 – 3 pm
First Unitarian Church of South Bend
Contact: Chip Roush
801 East Washington Street, South Bend https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3644/

2 – 4 pm
Merritt Lehman
629 River Race Drive, Goshen, Indiana https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2659/

2 – 4 pm
Curt Wenger
64739 Appleridge Rd, Goshen, Indiana https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3026/

2- 5 pm
Alan Ediger
18262 CR 126, Goshen, Indiana
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2953/

5 – 8 pm
Maureen Wijnen
1117 North Saint Joseph Street, South Bend
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2277/

SUNDAY, OCT 6:

2 – 4 pm
Assembly Mennonite Church
Contact: Glenn Gilbert
1201 South 11th Street, Goshen, Indiana https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/3014/

3 – 5 pm
Leah Thill
1015 Woodward Ave, South Bend
https://www.nationalsolartour.org/open-houses/2907/

SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION: KERCHER ROAD

The speed limit at Kercher Road between Dierdorff Road and Lincolnway East (US 33) has been reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph for the duration of the ongoing construction project (due to end in June 2020), upon request from the City of Goshen Engineering Department and contractor Rieth Riley Construction, Inc.

The vehicle speeds have been excessive, causing concern for both the workers and traveling public.

ROAD CLOSURE: WILDEN AVENUE

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, contractor Walsh and Kelly will be removing existing curb and working on a storm drain on Wilden Avenue for the First Street project. They will close down Wilden Avenue between Michigan Avenue and Main Street (SR 15) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday. The road is expected to be reopened the same day.

The detour will be Michigan Avenue to Johnston Street to Main Street.

FINAL BRUSH COLLECTION

The final brush collection of the year begins this Monday, Sept. 30.

Residents are asked to have their brush by the front curb, but not in the street. 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.

If you need to dispose of brush after this week, you can take it to the Environmental Center,  20100 CR 19. The center accepts brush and leaves, loose or in bags, at no charge to Goshen residents.

For large amounts of brush, you can reserve a brush trailer through Oct. 25.