The Rushville Common Council met Wednesday evening.

Mayor Merv Bostic addressed the city’s recent water issue, which inconvenienced Rush County residents and businesses for approximately 3 days when a boil order was unexpectedly issued.

“Myself and all five people on the city utilities board had absolutely no idea that the tank was going to be drained,” Bostic said. “I want to make it absolutely clear that it would have been handled much differently if we had known what was going on.”

Bostic related that a city utilities employee was supposed to man the valves on a weekend, and chose not to do what he was supposed to do and no one knew it.

“I’ve had several discussions with this person, and I don’t expect this to happen again,” he said.

He did relate that there was a chance with the SR 44 project that the city would again have to go to a boil advisory when water lines were switched, but Bostic was adamant that there would be advanced notice of future occurrences.

Citizen concerns were relayed to the mayor by council members Darrin McGowan and Cindy Humphrey.

McGowan noted that a citizen in the newly annexed area of the city on Willard Avenue requested a stop sign be placed to slow down drivers coming in from the non-annexed part of the city. He also had a request for a handicapped parking spot in front of Pizza King South.

Humphrey relayed a complaint from another newly annexed part of the city that Hunt Road was 18 inches short on both sides.

APC director Bill Todd was also present before the council to get a favorable recommendation from the council for a new business. Local resident Darren Sweet wants to put a chrome business on South Jackson Street, in a structure that was formerly a cabinet shop. The property is zoned as for commercial use, but in order to meet code a spot rezone would have to be issued. After fielding questions from council members regarding the safety of chemicals used in the chrome business, where items would be stored, etc. the council sent Mr. Sweet forward with the approval needed.

Elizabeth Gist can be contacted at elizabeth.gist@rushvillerepublican.com or at (765) 932-3111 ext. 109. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.