[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5975265,"mediaKeyId","5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d","parentId",5854754,"title","Columbia City advances two stormwater ordinances on first reading","audioSeconds",237,"startMs",2037000,"endMs",2274000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d&start=2037&end=2274","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d/thumbnail_2037000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5975265/Columbia-City/Whitley-County/Indiana/Columbia-City-advances-two-stormwater-ordinances-on-first-reading","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975265-f0557dd32be5c6b60b97eee4f7e8ee3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150677&Signature=T1XdOR9u88rmhrqy3imdDK3~iyc5F1fWsoNqv4WDM0vchTYdLMJSz8vGdTO9BtezFc4dbFHNfOxBSouI5R6jRVA5b2XPNB34bxqRvVfuv81SqqwvlQ~QGCVfMjr7VP~UxCLln2bv63~1EDopWC2tUPjuhS9oR--fgCuddxVy9jBLSomhZ4zuMqXkBOr3mS7DDpoZ6P1LjFqoPocXZo-dCnSQ6O18bFf4i-YLnhb-nXh7BaQlN6YWo1A22gSbi-QD~x1QfBNwaWwVO3pZqEIXcEUXvZGE0nRdW7NRyqAnZa~chqmy3Nt~kuCa8a885FkNxSakE2cMeVc~lsZOlp-bRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Columbia IN","date","2025-09-24T11:25:03Z","article","Columbia City’s Common Council on Sept. 23 approved on first reading two ordinances updating local stormwater rules for construction projects and illicit discharges, the council said. Ordinance 2025-13 amends Chapter 156 (Control of construction stormwater runoff) of Title 15 of the City Code; Ordinance 2025-15 amends provisions tied to illicit discharges and municipal stormwater system charges in Title 5.

The ordinances, described to the council in previous meetings by John Goetz of the Soil and Water Conservation District, reflect changes prompted by state and federal mandates, according to council comments. The council voted to read each ordinance by title and then approved both on first reading; both moves passed unanimously and were scheduled for second reading at the next meeting.

Council members and staff used the discussion to clarify enforcement and inspection roles. Brent, who identified himself as a staff member in the planning and building department, said the city receives inspection reports from the Soil and Water Conservation District and that the city office typically manages enforcement and follow-up with contractors. Goetz was described in the meeting as the contracted inspector who issues routine inspection reports.

Council members asked how enforcement works in practice. Brent said routine corrections are reported back after contractors are notified; he added that more serious violations could involve state action depending on the depth of the violation. No examples of formal stop-work orders or enforcement actions were reported during the meeting.

The mayor noted the broad purpose of the changes: to bring Columbia City’s code into line with higher-level mandates and to ensure construction and stormwater practices meet required standards. No amendments were added during first reading. Both ordinances will return for second reading at a future meeting.

Details to watch from subsequent meetings include whether staff will propose specific enforcement procedures, fees, or administrative timelines tied to the updated language.

Ending: The ordinances passed first reading unanimously; the council scheduled both for second reading at the next session and gave staff direction to continue coordinating enforcement procedures with the contracted Soil and Water Conservation District inspector and planning/building staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council, September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia City’s Common Council on Sept. 23 approved on first reading two ordinances updating local stormwater rules for construction projects and illicit discharges.","taxTitle","Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana","taxId",63763,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975249,"City crews finish major digester cleaning; ARV and well repairs planned as utility work continues",217,632000,849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d&start=632&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d/thumbnail_632000.jpg","/articles/5975249/Columbia-City/Whitley-County/Indiana/City-crews-finish-major-digester-cleaning-ARV-and-well-repairs-planned-as-utility-work-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975249-8d3bf06d0a430314d45cec03d7434dd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150677&Signature=PAjufy2iJBrCYrBgJs3khSKE2laVEzT4v6Ww6sIGhaXPoD5EIFHJdYQcRZfFDpPQN~~yMRxCr8Udjpgs3Uso9v-5kGTtzsHrbmlcyHkx7YxpP4ElJJawXVV7tnFOh6OF8EJudv2TtLJL~xzL5qezGGRwRPZ2pmoEK-Mb~J8s~-UFWQWVP9c2kL2jU14rYRoLpPYEv76P5q4OLl2xU~-cMfq9uorpl44eL2ZpkiAmxi9h-LnEA0FqYGV025RJWWREsgn38XV32LBbAlVfuyfdTK591kWRR6B4Qbsh11hMnD3ZxhaxX~AeYqzktNdc6qEKwEBglluS3f1ADEVQoALLHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City department heads updated the Common Council on Sept. 23 about ongoing utility and public‑works operations, reporting completion of major digester cleaning and several follow‑up repair tasks.

Mike, providing the department report, said crews replaced a badly pitted column pipe that goes down to a pump, rebuilt the pump and electric motor at a well—work he said will make the well ‘like new.’ He described a large digester cleaning that revealed nearly 400,000 gallons and thick, compacted material on the bottom. Crews used heavy equipment and replaced nozzles; Mike said the material was dense enough crews could stand on it at times.

Staff also reported an atypical repair schedule: a vendor delay caused one machine to be pushed back, and the larger machine came from Noblesville, which the crew said made significant progress until rain halted work. Crews expect to complete the remaining cleaning work within days if weather cooperates.

Mike said the city coordinated with SDI regarding an ARV (automatic/air release valve) problem and planned a facility shutdown in October to remove and replace the faulty ARV and install a new stainless shutoff valve and hardware. The city expects the new stainless parts and ARV to improve reliability.

Other updates included a pole/line project on State Road 9 between 500 North and 600 North, new lineman pre‑apprentice training hosted at a repurposed college facility, and a digitization project and lead‑line identification program (referred to as GLOW) mapping lead service lines in the city.

No formal council action was required for the operational updates; council members thanked staff and asked to be kept apprised of timelines.

Ending: Public‑works crews reported substantial progress on digester cleaning and well repairs, planned ARV replacement during an October shutdown, continued line/pole work and investment in lineman training; staff will continue to update the council on completion timelines and any service interruptions.","Public works staff described an extensive digester cleaning at the wastewater plant, repairs to a pitted column pipe and pump rebuilds at a well, upcoming ARV replacement during a facility shutdown, and ongoing line/pole projects and lineman training.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975253,"Downtown restaurant seeks city assistance for renovation; CIP committee requests owner presentation and financial details",759,4240000,4999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d&start=4240&end=4999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d/thumbnail_4240000.jpg","/articles/5975253/Columbia-City/Whitley-County/Indiana/Downtown-restaurant-seeks-city-assistance-for-renovation-CIP-committee-requests-owner-presentation-and-financial-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975253-c06747a8d868308c8af9a25243892049/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150677&Signature=Tyw0jlz1vFe7uVmQZEqr6gpuxcW9qq7MQTIWAkf9LZXofC9Sh~T9-xRu5ZypxIgmxuDiYWNxN34C7reYS1EtYiYY8~gZZ5FF8ghhjp5CaJJSRUC0i8Gx5HbeRo1SQIU3HIP07d2BQb1HiYRGhY~RRrwTtj9JggT4XkL3okSDpelVUwaBoQ6wAqYBWzmoOCEmqZ96Nqr3BxUN2LskcaeA6W~hNObrLSgBKsPnq1GqNDgXeYbqwyVMUEU08vSXW~XV8dKm9wosHmGRXnvWJD~EI5CJDcNcfaMzFNebseMi2zm9~uzjyLfoeUy32EhBkJ8scCHEy-kRBcxB7R6qxxOPbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A downtown Columbia City restaurant known as The Square asked the city for financial assistance for an approximately $84,000 renovation, including updated floors, booth replacement and hood/vent upgrades. The request was discussed at the CIP committee meeting on Sept. 23; the committee did not approve funding and instead asked the restaurant owner to provide a formal presentation with a clear project timeline, financial background and staffing projections.

Chip, who presented the request to the committee, said The Square scored highly under the city’s economic scoring rubric but that the committee needs a clearer formula and more documentation before committing significant taxpayer dollars. Committee members emphasized their past practice of supporting hood and fire‑code compliance projects (previously capped around $5,000 in some cases) but said they do not typically fund major portions of private renovation costs and prefer to be the “last dollars in,” not the primary funder.

Committee members asked for details the owner had not provided in the initial packet: the requested match amount versus the total investment, the planned project timeline, the expected job increase and whether seating capacity or operating hours would change. Leslie and Jenny said they want a clear accounting of the owner’s investment and assurances about outcomes such as job creation or increased tax base before the committee considers a grant.

The committee discussed scheduling the owner for a CIP meeting presentation (possible dates cited included late October) and asked Chip to contact the owner to confirm availability and to request financial documentation. No vote or grant award was made at the Sept. 23 meeting.

Ending: The Square’s renovation request remains under consideration; the CIP committee requested the owner return with a formal presentation, a project timeline, financial details and documentation of expected job or revenue impacts before the committee will consider a funding award.","The Square, a long‑running downtown Columbia City restaurant, asked the city’s CIP committee for financial assistance toward an $84,000 renovation; the committee did not award funds but asked the owner to present detailed cost, timeline and workforce impacts and noted precedent for limited hood/vent hood assistance.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975258,"Council adopts 2025–2030 CIP and flags potential need for local income tax after state change",634,3608000,4242000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d&start=3608&end=4242","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d/thumbnail_3608000.jpg","/articles/5975258/Columbia-City/Whitley-County/Indiana/Council-adopts-20252030-CIP-and-flags-potential-need-for-local-income-tax-after-state-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975258-d65193643809740c8cbd04363577556e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150677&Signature=H~w4hKbru26ySyJWxuDcMLaKbULi1nnmNPIZICn-z76qwJGqo5ospwNswiKJYhUPr9XVNLVC3-ojEIaKZs0Kfzv6NRup4SjkRi1gCSqOkK1r8Shb8E8myekOAnVBSGS4zysYSYwhARD6FcN7L50-yiaBSfPkfNx5UaO8-Qtlm9nkhN43iqrrZY-McAUimKY6MBLlosasukulGTj4GQQowbX-UR5P1OmtFf4ehnh4Z6ZeCPNQ9Jw94~Ub7PkJZBlvd70gB5Fn1f1TNP~bdzyrBZ4rjLrms~MjXn-Hew38Mu6s4PSOvFLY27OJO3a9hfsfWUgqAsKsmFMijx-JfRNOhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia City’s Common Council unanimously approved the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2025–2030 at its Sept. 23 meeting, accepting a spending framework that includes sidewalk and curb enhancements, paving priorities, park and trail investments and initial funds for downtown planning.

The plan presented to council includes a $100,000 sidewalk and curb enhancement allocation for 2025 (with a similar amount proposed in 2026 tied to Westgate work), $300,000 in CIP toward the Blue River Trail extension and $85,000 toward Eagle Park improvements this year. Staff also earmarked a proposed $50,000 in 2026 for a preliminary engineering report for downtown revitalization and tentatively assigned $300,000 in 2027 to larger downtown work, contingent on matching grants and other funding sources.

During the CIP committee discussion the mayor warned that state legislation — referred to in the meeting as Senate Enrolled Act 1 — is changing how county income tax distributions are handled and that, beginning after 2027, cities may not automatically receive the same county income tax dollars it has historically received. The mayor told the council that, under the state’s change, the city may need to pass its own local income tax to replace revenue formerly routed through the county and that the state currently lacks parcel‑level data to predict precisely how much city revenue a local income tax would generate.

Council members and staff discussed options to finance downtown and Westgate projects, including seeking Community Crossings matching grants and other state or regional revitalization programs; they emphasized the CIP is a planning document and said figures beyond 2027 could change substantially depending on state actions and grant outcomes. The mayor described the numbers beyond 2027 as provisional and said the council should expect to revisit the CIP if state revenue rules change.

The motion to approve the 2025–2030 CIP passed unanimously. Staff were directed to continue grant coordination and to monitor state legislative changes that could affect municipal revenue and CIP priorities.

Ending: Council adopted the CIP while signaling that state changes to income tax distributions may require the city to revisit revenue plans and possibly consider a local income tax or other revenue strategies before the end of the decade.","Columbia City’s council approved the Capital Improvement Plan for 2025–2030, including funding lines for sidewalks, Blue River Trail work and preliminary downtown revitalization; staff warned Senate Enrolled Act 1 could require the city to consider a local income tax after 2027, changing long‑term revenue assumptions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5975261,"Columbia City council approves revised parks job descriptions to support events and amphitheater plans",426,2300000,2726000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d&start=2300&end=2726","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5854754-e55a303067721790d60da609fcd5547d/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","/articles/5975261/Columbia-City/Whitley-County/Indiana/Columbia-City-council-approves-revised-parks-job-descriptions-to-support-events-and-amphitheater-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975261-6351d918a24dd957691076cc463e37ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150677&Signature=lXBRUsQkjscXAg2mKqchdqooOqGa0A1hhku6MxwafGdNWGQ3kSMVvjLHdrfaMlp~jX7-b7bR-w6pJe-1~d07RNPVSNrxbs84Uli5liwOxxabedtusfB~NU2RQRSt4XBovihihjUZ6Clu-NvYqiTCs7sb6t1xi~jXv1gD8IjSxOzuQNy0-xAGy5MAJ1UI~A~FI90JC8AZkhmX0EfUGN6LS0dZJ8ld6U0oPhyGp80-9dtS1lrb5fiQFvHRH~30vzO97GRtNmrj9j1zQzSQoXEpp6Bnv0PlWdl9zf2ToWF1a3uzb-C7HgheATQ3~c69OVv73RBHgErTnAY1yizSyJ6nUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia City’s Common Council on Sept. 23 approved updated position descriptions for three parks department roles as part of a reorganization intended to broaden programming and support planned facilities.

The council voted unanimously to adopt revised descriptions for a recreation coordinator, a recreation and events supervisor (a retitling of an existing program supervisor role), and an events coordinator. Council members said the changes repurpose existing staff capacity rather than creating new positions: officials stated the positions replace a previous aquatics director role while retaining assistant pool managers and other seasonal staff.

Matt, who presented the change to the council, said the restructuring reflects the parks department’s growing program mix at Eagle Park and elsewhere — including expanded events, pickleball and skate instruction possibilities, and preparation for a possible amphitheater. He said the recreation coordinator will cover programming during seasonal high-demand periods (for example, evening youth sports) and take operational responsibility for junior football league programming and other activities.

The council confirmed that funding for the position already exists in the budget, but that the new salary ranges will be presented separately in a future salary ordinance. Several council members asked for the full job descriptions (which were provided in council packets) and for confirmation that the change does not add a new FTE; Matt and the mayor reiterated that the action is a reclassification and reallocation of duties.

The motion to approve the three position descriptions passed unanimously. The council noted that final implementation and pay ranges will follow when the salary ordinance is considered.

Ending: Council approved the job‑description updates to support broader, year‑round programming at Eagle Park and to position the department for future projects such as a proposed amphitheater; salary adjustments will be considered in a later ordinance.","Council unanimously approved three updated parks department position descriptions — recreation coordinator, recreation and events supervisor, and events coordinator — to broaden programming at Eagle Park and prepare for a potential amphitheater and more year‑round events.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Columbia City advances two stormwater ordinances on first reading

City crews finish major digester cleaning; ARV and well repairs planned as utility work continues

Downtown restaurant seeks city assistance for renovation; CIP committee requests owner presentation and financial details

Council adopts 2025–2030 CIP and flags potential need for local income tax after state change

Columbia City council approves revised parks job descriptions to support events and amphitheater plans