Category Archives: News & Events

Updates, messages and other announcements are posted under this category with the intent to notify residents. Posts under this category are emailed in a newsletter at the end of the day.

Expect Closures at Crossings

Norfolk Southern has begun rail replacement ahead of schedule in Goshen. Closures will continue working West to East and North to South. Norfolk-Southern’s crews anticipate re-opening each crossing the same day it is closed. See the table below for an estimated schedule of closures for this week.

Railroad Crossing Currently Closed Railroad Crossing Closed as Early as this Afternoon or Tuesday, 5/7Railroad Crossing Closed as Early as Tuesday, 5/7
Peddlers Village RdPlymouth AveCollege Ave
Greene RdJackson StKercher Rd
Purl StBurdick St 
Reynolds StNew York St 

Work will continue in approxitmately one month for NS crews to finish paving.

Crossings at College Ave., Plymouth Ave., Reynolds Street, Purl Street, Greene Road, and Peddlers Village should be open by the end of the day Monday, May 6. Crossings between College Avenue and Plymouth may be closed until Tuesday, May 7. If possible try to utilize Kercher Road and Lincolnway East / US 33 for travel Monday evening but expect delays on Kercher Road Tuesday. Madison Ave will also be open Monday and Tuesday as an alternative route.

The city will provide ongoing updates as they become available.

Plymouth Avenue and 10th Street closure begins May 6

The intersection of Plymouth Avenue and 10th Street will be closed starting Monday, May 6, and continue until Friday, May 10th.

Niblock Excavating will be reconstructing sanitary structures in the intersection of Plymouth Avenue and 10th Street during this time as part of the 10th Street Reconstruction project.

For more information on the details of the project, visit the project page.

BOIL ORDER: College Avenue and Westwood Road

This boil order has been canceled.

On Monday, April 22, a boil order was issued for the area south of College Avenue to Westwood Road. This area includes Goshen Hospital, part of the Historic Racemere Peninsula Neighborhood, and Goshen College west of 9th Street. A map of the affected area can be found below.

It is recommended that all cooking and drinking water be brought to a complete boil for five minutes before use. Please continue to boil all cooking and drinking water until notified that it is no longer necessary.

We appreciate your cooperation during this time and will update you as necessary until the drinking water problem has been solved.  If you have any questions concerning the drinking water problem, please contact your water department at 574-534-5306 or waterseweroffice@goshencity.com.

City of Goshen to participate in May First Friday Green Day Celebration

The City of Goshen Environmental Resilience Department is partnering with Downtown Goshen to host May’s First Friday Green Day Celebration on Friday, May 3. The event, centered on the courthouse lawn, will feature activities and educational tables from city departments, partners, and local businesses.

“We’re excited to once again be partnering with Downtown Goshen Inc. to celebrate Arbor Day at May First Fridays and provide family-friendly activities and environmental education,” said Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Director of the Goshen Environmental Resilience Department.

The Goshen Environmental Resilience Department will host activities, including tree and t-shirt giveaways, a career and information table, and a tree-planting learning session.

Other activities include tree climbing for kids, tree art, face painting, live animals, a magic show, an electric vehicle demonstration, and live music from Goshen Elementary School choirs, Nayo Ulloa, and Shiny Shiny Black.

The event will last from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Goshen. The City’s AmeriCorps volunteers will provide a bike valet service for those who prefer to bike to the event instead of driving.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Conduct Community Interviews 

The City of Goshen strives to take the best care for residents and to ensure our drinking water meets all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) safety requirements.  As part of this process, the EPA will conduct community interviews in Goshen from Tuesday, April 23, through Thursday, April 25, regarding the North 5th Street Superfund Site

During one of the City’s routine tests in 2015, a plume of chlorinated solvents was found in the four municipal wells at the site. The groundwater contaminants found in the municipal wells are at levels below the Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL, and the groundwater is processed at the City’s treatment plant in Goshen to ensure its safety before it is distributed to residents.

“The City’s Water and Sewer Department consistently tests water for contaminants, and our drinking water levels continue to test below the maximum level set by the EPA, and therefore is safe for residents,” said Water Superintendent Marv Shepherd. “We will continue to work closely with the EPA to identify and clean up this site and are appreciative for the potential for federal dollars that come with this designation.”

Additional Background

The City of Goshen has been proactively working with the IDEM and the EPA to track the source of the contaminant at the North 5th Street Groundwater Contamination site.  In 2021, the City announced that the Water and Sewer Department had been working closely with IDEM to determine the source by obtaining deep groundwater samples and requested the EPA place the site on the National Priorities List (NPL).

In 2022, the EPA placed this site on the  NPL, which serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding. The City of Goshen will now be able to utilize federal funds only available for sites included on the NPL for long-term, permanent cleanup.

“These community interviews are part of the EPA’s process to ensure the Goshen community gets the information it needs about this site,” said Adrian Palomeque, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator. “Testing of the city wells shows the municipal drinking water meets federal EPA standards.”

Community Interviews Process

Community interviews are a typical part of the EPA’s process when working with Superfund sites. The feedback will help agency officials better understand what information the community needs and how they receive information. This feedback will be used to write a Community Involvement Plan for the site.

The EPA will schedule 30-minute one-on-one community interviews at the Goshen Public Library, 601 S 5th Street, on Tuesday, April 23, between 5 and 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday and Thursday, April 24 and April 25, between 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. To schedule an interview, call or email EPA contractor Gavin Reynolds at 312-201-7446 or gavin.reynolds@tetratech.com.

Additional Information:

For additional information on the North 5th Street site, visit epa.gov/superfund/north5thstreet

For further questions about the site, contact Adrian Palomeque, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 440-250-1715 or palomeque.adrian@epa.gov

2024 Spring brush pick-up begins April 22

The City of Goshen Street Department will begin the Spring brush pick-up on Monday, April 22, and will run until Friday, May 3, 2024. Please have any yard brush and leaves out before the start date to ensure pick-up. Leaf and brush piles placed in alleyways will not be picked up.

Because of the large amount of brush and leaves usually placed out for this first pick-up, crews can take longer to make it through the City. During the Spring pick-up, the street department will make two passes through the City. Residents should have leaves and brush placed at the curb, but not in the street, so as not to cause a road hazard or hinder water drainage. Piles should not be placed around fire hydrants, mailboxes, or telephone poles. Do not place brush or trash on or in leaf piles.

When placing brush, please keep the following in mind:

  • Brush and leaves may not be mixed, and must be free of obstacles.
  • Brush pile size can be no more than 5’ high, 5’ deep, and 10’ long. Branches must be 6” diameter or less.
  • Brush shall not be placed out for pickup during the months of October – March.
  • The city does not pickup brush generated by landscaping and tree tree trimming contractors.  Contractors will be required to remove all brush generated by their work.
  • The city has extended the brush trailer program to year-round (weather permitting) for residents without the ability to comply with the new ordinance.
  • Residents/property owners may be cited and fined for non-compliance of this ordinance.

The street department conducts “brush only” collection on the last Monday of the months of May through September. The dates summer brush pick-up begins are below:

  • May 28, 2024
  • June 24, 2024
  • July 29, 2024
  • August 26, 2024
  • September 30, 2024

For further questions, call the Goshen Street Department at 574-534-9711.

Beautify Goshen Week 2024

In conjunction with the Goshen Chamber of Commerce’s “Beautify Goshen” Week, the Goshen Street Department will offer additional disposal services from Saturday, April 27, to Saturday, May 4, to assist city residents in their “Beautify Goshen” tasks.

This free service is only available during this eight-day period, and there is no limit to the quantity of items that may be disposed of. Residents must make arrangements to transport items to the Goshen Street Department, 475 Steury Avenue. There will be no curbside pickup. Because this free service is paid for by the tax dollars of Goshen City residents, only City residents are allowed to dispose of items. IDs will be checked to verify residency.

Hours of operation:

  • Saturday, April 27: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 28: CLOSED
  • Monday, April 29 – Friday, May 3: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To keep prohibited items from entering the waste stream, the Street Department will have a crew member on hand at all times to monitor the items being accepted. Items that can be disposed of are:

  • Non-hazardous waste such as furniture, carpeting, lumber, drywall, metal and vinyl siding, windows, fiberglass insulation, mattresses, stoves, landscape, timber, bricks, etc.
  • White goods, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, dehumidifiers, etc. (The Freon does not have to be removed)
  • Electronic waste, such as computers, home phones, televisions, etc.
  • Tires up to 16 1/2″, either on or off their rims

The following items are not accepted:

  • Pesticides or herbicides (insect or weed killers)
  • Unlabeled drums containing any substance
  • Sealed pressurized containers (propane tanks, etc.)
  • Paint thinners, oil base or water base paint
  • Brush and yard waste
  • Asbestos insulation
  • Contaminated soil

During the other 51 weeks of the year, Goshen residents may place one or two large items per month with their regular weekly trash for removal. (This does not include electronics, old tube-type televisions, cooling appliances containing Freon, or any of the items not accepted in the Beautify Goshen disposal.) You will need to contact Borden Waste-Away two days before your normal pick-up day to arrange for the pick-up. Contact Borden Waste-Away at (574) 293-5001 for details of the year-long, large-item disposal.

Lane closure on Main St. and College Ave.

As part of the Goshen College Westlawn Renovation project, the designated right-hand turn lane on Main Street at College Avenue will be closed starting this Tuesday, April 9th. Vehicles continuing north and those turning east onto College Avenue will both use the same lane. The lane restriction is expected to last approximately two months. Please be mindful of potential traffic delays in this area and plan your commute accordingly.

Poison Hemlock

We want to raise awareness regarding the presence of poison hemlock, a highly invasive and toxic plant species in our area. Poison hemlock not only poses a significant health risk to humans, pets, and livestock if ingested but also presents dangers to skin and respiratory health upon contact or inhalation.

It is crucial to exercise caution when encountering this plant. Despite its aggressive nature and resilience, it can be removed manually with gloves and patience. However, it is imperative to dispose of it properly by placing it in the trash. Do not burn poison hemlock as it releases harmful toxins into the air, posing further health risks.

Poison hemlock is classified a noxious weed. A noxious weed refers to any plant species that is invasive, harmful, or detrimental to ecosystems, agriculture, human health, or the economy. These weeds typically outcompete native vegetation, reducing biodiversity and causing ecological imbalances. They can also cause significant economic losses by reducing crop yields, clogging waterways, and interfering with infrastructure. Control and eradication efforts are often necessary to manage the spread and impact of noxious weeds.

A noxious weed refers to any plant species that is invasive, harmful, or detrimental to ecosystems, agriculture, human health, or the economy. These weeds typically outcompete native vegetation, reducing biodiversity and causing ecological imbalances. They can also cause significant economic losses by reducing crop yields, clogging waterways, and interfering with infrastructure. Control and eradication efforts are often necessary to manage the spread and impact of noxious weeds.

For those interested in learning more about identifying and effectively managing poison hemlock, we recommend referring to the comprehensive guide provided in the 2023 issue of the Purdue University Landscape Report: Purdue University Landscape Report on Poison Hemlock.