All City of Goshen offices will remain open all day during Primary Election Day Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

No changes will be made to the garbage collection schedule.

Water accumulating from rainfall and swelling rivers has resulted in high water areas throughout Goshen. The City of Goshen’s engineering, streets and developments, as well as first responders, are monitoring forecasts from the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess the extent of the flooding of Goshen’s roads and structures.

The following roads and parks have been affected as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 1:

• Chicago Avenue – Closed
• Denver Street – Signed “High Water”
• Plymouth Avenue Trail – Flooded across near the former park office
• Oakridge Park – flooded
• Roger’s Park – flooded
• Shanklin Park – flooded
• Mullet Park – flooded
• Fidler Pond Park path- closed
• Pedestrian Path over Rock Run Creek at Oakridge Park – flooded and unpassable

Areas being monitored at this time are Indiana Avenue, and Kroger and neighboring businesses. With historical data collected, the city has drawn maps of areas that could potentially be affected based on elevation. You can view the maps at goshenindiana.org. Please not that these are just estimates and not necessarily predictions.

Faith Mission, located at 801 Benham Avenue, has created a flood amnesty period beginning immediately for those seeking shelter. A warrant check will not be required.

Residents can obtain sandbags at the Goshen Street Department, 475 Steury Ave. Sand and bags have been placed outside of the street department’s gates so they can get picked up even outside of business hours. The bags are not already filled with sand, so residents are encouraged to plan to bring a shovel.

As water continues to rise, residents are asked not to enter the water. Please be aware that manholes may pop, and they may not be seen through the murky water. If you come across a flooded road not on this list, please call dispatch at 533-4151. If you are in danger, call 911.

The rain is causing some standing water in some area of the city. These are the areas affected by high water as of May 1 at 11 a.m.:

– The 100 block of Chicago Avenue and the 100 block of Huron Street are being closed due to flooding and high water. Please DO NOT drive through streets with high water. If you have an emergency, call 911.

– One lane of S. 8th Street has been reopened after being closed on Friday due to a damaged sewer line. The weather has caused issues with soil compaction. At this time there is no estimate of when the road will fully reopen.

– The trail at Fidler Pond Park has been closed on the east side due to the trail being washed out by the rain. There is no estimated time for when the trail will be reopened.

– Parts of Shanklin, Rogers and Oakridge parks have standing water. It may take a while for the water to recede.

– Though the other trails remain open, trail users should be aware that there may be standing water in portions of them.

The trail at Fidler Pond Park has been closed on the east side due to the trail being washed out by the rain. There is no estimated time for when the trail will be reopened.

Parts of Shanklin and Rogers parks have standing water. It may take a while for the water to recede.

Though the other trails remain open, trail users should be aware that there may be standing water in portions of them.

The Goshen Street Department will have its spring brush and leaf collection from April 29, 2019 to May 12, 2019. During this first collection the Street Department will pick up both leaves and brush. Please have the brush and leaves out before the April 29 start date to ensure pickup. Because of the large amount of brush and leaves usually placed out for this first pickup, it tends to take longer for the crews to make their rounds. Residents are to have their leaves and brush placed at the curb, but not in the street so as to not cause a road hazard or hinder water drainage. Do not place brush or trash on or in leaf piles. Leaf and brush piles placed in alleyways will not be picked up. Do not place piles around fire hydrants, mail boxes or telephone poles. Feel free to call the Street Department if you have questions.

During scheduled brush collections, the Street Department will make only one pass through the city to pick up brush. (The exception being the Spring brush and leaf collection normally includes 2 rotations of the City.)  Please 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.

Located at 20100 CR 19, the Environmental Center accepts brush and leaves, loose or in bags, at no charge to Goshen residents. However, if leaves are bagged, the bags must be emptied. There is a small fee for disposal of yard waste and grass clippings. The Environmental Center is located west of the intersection of North Indiana Avenue and C.R. 19 and is open 52 weeks a year. Winter hours are in effect from Dec. 1st through March 31st with hours being  Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Summer hours are from Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and they are in effect from April 1 to November 30. The Environmental Center is closed on holidays. Proof of residency is required.  The Environmental Center phone number is 533-6200.

The City of Goshen is not responsible for disposal of large tree limbs and debris from home owners or contractors taking down a tree on their property. This is beyond the scope of normal yard waste. 

The Goshen City Forestry Division will launch the goal of “45 by ’45”— a goal of increasing the city’s tree canopy to 45 percent by the year 2045. This canopy goal will diversify the kinds of trees living in Goshen, which will in turn expand and increase their benefits to all residents, and help us to deepen our care for them.

The work will be done in five-year increments: 25 percent by 2025, 30 percent by 2030, and so on. Meeting these goals will require equal parts educating and harnessing the energy of Goshen residents along with the actual work of planting and caring for trees. The non-profit organization, Trees for Goshen, will be an important partner in helping private property owners to plant and care for trees.

The most noticeable change residents should expect to see is a diversification of the species of trees— which is an important aspect of the goal in an era when invasive pest species, such as Emerald Ash Borer, can accidentally eradicate important tree species.

Changes in the environment and climate are the key factors in understanding that our urban forest (or canopy) should grow, City Forester Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley says. He quotes reports from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment from Purdue University, which have especially underscored the kinds of changes that are happening — ones Goshen should prepare for. Tending and growing our urban forest is possibly the cheapest and simplest way to adapt and prepare for these changes, and to mitigate some of the impacts, from rising temperatures and increased flood risk to carbon sequestration and energy efficiency.

“The Goshen Tree Canopy Goal: 45% by 2045 was created because our urban forest is an essential natural and infrastructure asset to all of us,” Sawatsky-Kingsley said. “By growing it, its value will increase. As our environment and climate continue to change, the benefits which our urban forest provide will become increasingly valuable. A large, diverse urban forest will be a buffer and a beacon for our thriving community.”

The “45 by ‘45” program has received approval at the Board of Works and will be voted on by the City Council at a later date.

Goshen’s Annual Arbor Day celebration will be held at Shanklin Park Friday, 411 W. Plymouth Ave., April 26, beginning at 4:30 p.m., and will feature children’s activities, tree planting, interactive booths, crafts and hands-one demonstrations, as well as a food court.

The City of Goshen has formed a task force to look at options and develop a short-term solution to the homeless encampment along the Millrace Trail.

Mayor Jeremy Stutsman’s office and the Police Department have received complaints of the presence of tents, campfires and verbal fighting among homeless people from residents who use or live near the Millrace Canal.

The task force, which held its first meeting Tuesday, April 23, is composed of City departments, three council members and nonprofit agencies that work directly with the homeless population, as well as a number of neighboring residents and business owners. The group is looking at all options, as allowing a permanent encampment near the canal is not a solution.

“We have heard concerns from residential and business neighbors and those who use the Millrace Trail often, and I want them to know we take their concerns seriously and are working on a solution, but we need to approach the issue with compassion as well,” Mayor Stutsman said.

The task force is expected to come up with a step-by-step plan in the next couple of weeks, which will serve as a guide for the Mayor and City departments in dealing with the homeless population.