LOOGOOTEE, Ind. (June 9, 2025) — The City of Loogootee’s Board of Works and City Council convened Monday to focus on key infrastructure projects and community programs aimed at enhancing residents’ quality of life.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Brian Ader and Board members Dana Strange, Brandon Carrico, Attorney Steven Teverbaugh, and Danny Clark. Mark McAtee participated virtually via Zoom due to undisclosed personal or health reasons.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the council quickly moved through the agenda. A significant achievement discussed was the approval of a new water tank project, initially established in a previous meeting.
The contract for this project was awarded to LMT for a total cost of $627,000, aiming to substantially improve the city’s water distribution infrastructure.
In related news, the council approved a request from the Loogootee Fire Department to equip 26 units with 30 new face pieces at a cost of $249,909.73. This decision reflects the city’s commitment to ensuring that first responders are adequately equipped for public safety.
Additionally, a five-year repayment plan was sanctioned for the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), totaling $492,000, underscoring the council’s focus on enhancing emergency response capabilities.
The meeting also saw the appointment of Hannah Harshaw to a new position within the Street Department. Mayor Ader welcomed Harshaw, viewing the addition as a progressive step for the city. He proposed increasing her compensation by $4,000 to $5,000 to reflect the additional responsibilities associated with the role.
The council approved an expenditure of $25,303.91 to upgrade the city’s security camera system, with the goal of improving community safety and deterring crime. One member noted, “The cost to upgrade all the cameras and add a few to the backside of the Street Department is around $25,303.91, which will be monitored from the police department.”
Another member added that previously monitoring the school system’s hallways will now be reinstated. “The upgrades will cover the pool, park, City Hall, and green spaces, with advanced features such as potential facial recognition and the ability to track incidents across multiple cameras.”
Additionally, the council approved a $5,000 donation to the Little League organization for facility improvements in support of local youth sports.
Several ordinances were introduced during the session, including proposals to prohibit the feeding of animals on city property and restrict motorized vehicles in green spaces. These measures prompted further discussion among council members, emphasizing the importance of preserving public spaces for community use.
Looking ahead, the board plans to address several key action items in future meetings. Pending approvals include finalizing the five-year payment plan for the SCBA equipment, proceeding with the security camera system upgrade, and discussing an additional donation to the Little League for further enhancements.
Other agenda items include researching methods to streamline processes regarding high grass and junk violations when property owners refuse certified letter delivery and investigating GPS tracking options for city vehicles.
The meeting highlighted the council’s commitment to improving city infrastructure, supporting community programs, and addressing public safety and ordinance enforcement, reflecting a determination to enhance the quality of life for Loogootee residents as the city continues to develop and grow.
The date for the next meeting has not yet been announced.