Volume 1, Issue 3, Free Edition
Three Month Honda Fire Contract Extension Approved
Noelle Maxwell
The Greensburg Board of Works voted to approve a three-month extension of the existing Honda Fire Contract at their March 10 meeting. This contract has been in place since the Indiana Auto Plant opened, with the most recent five-year extension initially expiring March 31. It stipulated that the Greensburg Fire Department would hire six full-time firefighters to remain on-site at Honda. Those positions were to be fully funded by Honda paying the City of Greensburg. “Over time,” explained Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh, “the amount paid to the city by Honda continues to cover fewer than six positions.” The city conducted an updated cost analysis to give to IAP, which requested a more detailed analysis – the results of the detailed analysis indicated it would cost $959,000 annually to cover the six firefighters – Marsh noted this is “significantly more” than has been paid. “It does show that the residents of Greensburg have been subsidizing the fire protection,” for nearly 20 years, he emphasized.
Marsh and GFD Chief Nathan Stoermer did not want to continue the contract. “We are entering a period of turbulent municipal finance,” Marsh noted, “as the governor and general assembly have enacted laws that significantly reduce our funding,” referring to state legislation cutting property taxes and restructuring income taxes. A three month extension enables GFD to exit the plant at the end of June while giving Honda time to find a contractor to fill the role GFD is leaving. Marsh emphasized that GFD will continue responding to emergencies at Honda that come through 911, stating “this is simply removing our on-site team.”
Community Crossing Matching Grant bids for a paving project were opened. There were eight bids: Dave O’Mara Contractor, $423,266.20; Globe Asphalt, $853,947.50; All Star Paving, $768,855.10; Howard Companies, $595,575.82; Hasco, $189,952.98; Paul H. Rohe, $717,439.40; Milestone Contractors, $713,717.84; Robertson Paving, $155,178.75.
O’Mara and Hasco only bid for a mill and fill project, Robertson only bid for a microsurfacing project. The project could be bid on as exclusively a mill and fill, exclusively microsurface or bid on both the mill and fill and mircosurface project combined. A motion was made to allow the city to entertain a contract with the most responsive bidder. This was approved.
A contract with GM Development was approved for a BOT project. The project was approved at the February city council meeting. This project will be funded using money leftover from the Washington and Lincoln Street READI projects since those projects came in under budget. A purchase of a Bobcat work vehicle from Miller Equipment for use on some city streets was approved.
An unofficial detour for an INDOT project spanning US Highway 421 from Main Street to Napoleon was approved. The project is expected to close parts of 421 for six months starting May 18. The official detour would direct drivers down Main Street/Highway 46 into Batesville then onto Highway 229. The unofficial detour, arranged with INDOT, would alternately direct drivers down Wilder Street. The city has arranged with INDOT to have the unofficial detour filmed and for INDOT to cover any repairs that may be needed on Wilder Street due to heavier traffic. A sign for an ice cream business opening at 119 North Broadway Street was approved. The sign would protrude into pedestrian traffic but has plenty of clearance.
Greensburg Police Department retired their K-9 officer, Kato, for age-related reasons in a brief ceremony during the meeting. Kato is a 10-year-old female Belgian Malinois. She has served with GPD for eight years and was the first K-9 GPD acquired when they restarted the program in 2018. She has logged 16,000 hours of service working as a narcotics detection, tracking and apprehension dog. She’s been paired with handler, Sergeant Jacob May, for the past six years and will be living with May and his family in retirement. Together, May and Kato were responsible for over 100 criminal arrests. Kato’s retirement and transfer of ownership from GPD to Sergeant May were approved.
With Kato’s retirement, GPD’s K-9 program currently has one dog, Bradly, a narcotics detection dog. The department functions best with three dogs, one for each shift. GPD has one K-9 in training with an office and is exploring another potential K-9 who could fit their needs. GPD requested and was granted approval for the purchase of two K-9s totaling $21,500, to be paid via the K-9 donation and fundraiser fund, which currently has just over $31,000. GPD Sergeant Thomas Tuttle also spoke regarding his interest in acquiring a victim therapy K-9 in the future – Tuttle recently attended a crisis intervention training emphasizing mental health. A therapy K-9, he explained, “represents a proactive step towards strengthening community relations, supporting victims of trauma and prioritizing officer wellness. This initiative aligns with community-focused policing practices and demonstrates our department’s commitment to compassionate service.”
Tuttle requested support to move forward with searching for a victim therapy K-9 – no vote was needed but the Board of Works motioned to support Tuttle’s search. The funding would come from the K-9 donation and fundraiser fund. Therapy K-9 training typically costs between $10,000 and $25,000. GPD’s goal is to get a therapy dog within the next year.
City Council Amends Roadway Usage Agreement
Noelle Maxwell
A public hearing for Ordinance 2026-01, right-of-way vacation for 806 E. Randall Street, was held at the March 10 Greensburg City Council meeting. The building’s owners, Five Star, are exploring adding a gate along an alley to prevent people from accessing the property. Following the hearing, the ordinance was approved.
There was a last-minute amendment to the agenda related to a roadway usage agreement with Fletcher Power, a battery storage project with a 118-megawatt capacity according parent company Aypa Power’s website. Fletcher was requesting the addition of county roads to the original roadway usage agreement – since this doesn’t affect the city roads in the existing agreement, the request was approved as presented by city council.