As the Batesville Rotary Club’s featured speaker for Monday’s lunch meeting at Tavolo Italian Ristorante, Mayor Rick Elumbaugh discussed future city projects with members of the civic organization.
Elumbaugh informed the group that with the last phase of the wastewater improvement project about to start, there will be a 42-inch line stretching underground from the water plant, across town, and into west Batesville upon its completion.
The mayor also touched upon the roundabout project in front of the Batesville Community Center at Meyers and 20th Streets. The city is currently working on moving the necessary utilities to start construction, and Elumbaugh emphasized the roundabout is only one aspect of the project. Myers Street will receive a makeover from the new roundabout to St. Louis Street, and the city is negotiating for a longer left turn lane from Meyers onto St. Louis Street to relieve congestion, particularly during rush hour periods.
A major piece of property centrally located in Batesville now belongs to the city, Elumbaugh also reported. The former AP&L property on South 11th Street, off St. Louis Street, has been purchased by the City of Batesville for future growth. “We’ve got to be thinking ahead,” the mayor told Rotarians. Elumbaugh said the property could be utilized in the future for a possible relocation of certain municipal agencies such as Batesville Fire Department’s Station One and the Batesville Police Department.
Another city project in the works is the construction of a new pedestrian bridge in Riverside Park since the Army Corps of Engineers clean-up in the area is completed, according to the mayor. The bridge is currently in the engineering phase, and it is planned to be 70 feet across. The old bridge was 50 feet across.
And Elumbaugh said residents on the west side of Batesville will soon be able to enjoy a new splash pad that will be built near West Elementary.
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