Centerville’s having a mixture of good and not-so-good financial news, according to reports at Centerville council’s Dec. 11 meeting.

Positive

Wayne County, after a recommendation from Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, is contributing $143,000 from its Consolidated EDIT Fund to upgrade Centerville’s electrical system. That amount is half of the town’s required match for a federal grant toward the work.

Town Manager Kevin Slick explained to the EDC that upgrading the system from 4KV to 12KV is needed to provide more electrical capacity to accommodate future businesses and/or homes. He said the town’s current electrical system only has the ability for minor growth.

Slick said having additional housing could make the town more attractive for businesses.

Town officials are pursuing additional grant or loan sources to minimize the impact on ratepayers, because Centerville already raised rates in 2023.

EDC President Valerie Shaffer said Centerville’s utility rates are just above average when comparing a residential usage benchmark. Centerville is the sixth most costly of 15 jurisdictions.

Slick noted energy savings with new equipment and the upgrade would pay for itself in about 20 years. Council President Dan Wandersee attended a 2 1/2-hour meeting with incoming Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith. Wandersee said he was really impressed with the discussion, much of which focused on Beckwith’s plans for Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs that he’ll oversee.

Wandersee said some changes are expected that he believes “will benefit everybody” as he understands OCRA returning to operations more like those of about 20 years ago.

Wandersee said Beckwith aims to have quarterly meetings to hear if towns are being served correctly and openly discuss issues.

“I felt real good coming out of that meeting,” Wandersee said.

Centerville Police Department gathered donations to take 10 underprivileged children shopping at Meijer on Dec. 13.

Police Chief Ed Buchholz thanked Meijer for supporting the shopping and its food drive.

Town employees, spouses and volunteers packed food boxes for 80 families before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Centerville Fire/Rescue and CPD delivered them.

At council’s Dec. 11 meeting, Buchholz noted a $900 donation from Round Barn Shell, so CPD might continue shopping with kids in future years.

Expenses

Buchholz noted CPD is short on police vehicles as repairs surge.

Its newest, a 2023, is getting a new engine, and a 2011 is “nickel-and-diming us,” Buchholz said, with compressor and sensor issues. Another vehicle is being taken out of service because catalytic converter blockages result in carbon monoxide coming inside, and it’s not worth the expense to fix.

Buchholz received council’s permission to research costs and availability for two vehicles in 2025.

In other business

• Three code enforcement cases in November were cleared.
• The town’s asset management plan was certified, so it will be able to apply for Community Crossings road grants in 2025.
• CF/R had 54 runs in November. Thirty-nine were medical, 11 related to fire and four were for other reasons.
• The previous three winners chose Jimmy Lawrence as the town’s firefighter of the year. Lewis Shook was reserve firefighter of the year. Rick Morgan was recognized for 35 years of service, and late retired chief Dennis Spears’ family accepted his honor for 45 years.
• 2025’s trash and leaf pickup schedule was approved. It’s being sent with a utility bill and posted on the town’s website.
• Council was to conduct a Dec. 30 work session. Its next meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 14 in town hall, 220 E. Main St. 

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