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Mayor outlines fairgrounds footpath plan with solar lighting, cameras and patrol carts
Summary
The mayor updated the commission on plans to extend a footpath to the fairgrounds, saying the city will resubmit an INDOT grant in October and pursue safety measures including solar lighting, solar-powered cameras and patrol carts while coordinating with police and community corrections.
The mayor told the commission the city will resubmit a grant application to INDOT in October to determine whether construction of the fairgrounds footpath and a separate water-tower walkway will continue, and described steps the city plans to take to improve safety along the route. "We just picked up the $2,000 one since that grant itself fell through," the mayor said, referring to a small payment the city covered after a grant fell through.
The project as presented would extend the pathway from the county highway toward 850 West and connect into the fairgrounds. Commonwealth Engineering remains engaged on the fairgrounds segment, and the mayor said staff are pursuing funding through the Jasper Foundation to cover roughly half of the project's cost.
Safety measures the mayor outlined include solar lighting along the path, solar-powered camera systems because electric service does not yet reach the site, and consideration of fencing where needed. Staff said camera feeds can be tied into the police department's existing system at Brookside so dispatch can review footage. The mayor also reported conversations with the sheriff, judges, the prosecutor and the community corrections board about partnership opportunities and said the police have discussed acquiring electric golf carts to improve patrol coverage along the route.
Commissioners and staff discussed routing options. One option crosses Eldridge property and county-owned field north along Airport Road; the fair board prefers a route closer to the fairgrounds. INDOT has expressed traffic-safety concerns for alignments closer to State Road 114, and staff said a relocated alignment could reduce fair parking, which the city might negotiate by providing an additional acre of parking as a tradeoff.
The commission did not take formal action on the path at the meeting. Staff said they will follow up with INDOT and grant partners and report back after the October resubmission.
