Oldenburg town council meets

Debbie Blank

Oldenburg’s liquor store is changing owners and locations, council members learned April 7. “We want to move the liquor store from where Paul (Selkirk) has it to where the gun shop was” at 22184 Main St. next to Obermeyer Marathon Service Station,” according to Bobby Pierson, whose wife, Cammie, will manage the store.

The council approved plans to build a 12-foot-wide addition containing 754 square feet on the east side of the 700-square-foot first floor.

Pierson's Spirits of Oldenburg should open around Aug. 1, he said. June 1 was the anticipated date, but “there’s so much paperwork it's not going to happen.”

Member Greg Struewing proposed last month that sand and other debris be swept from Oldenburg streets after residents complained. “I think it would just make the town look nicer ... I think this is something the townspeople would like to see.”

In a cost-cutting move, member Dennis Moeller asked Oldenburg Fire Co. members if they could hose down streets like they used to, but found they were reluctant. Chief Gary Swain explained he was concerned sand would plug up the storm drains.

Resident Tom Baumer asked if the town had enough money to buy a street sweeper. About $4,000 remains in the appropriate fund, which also must be used to pay for street signs, said clerk-treasurer Cindy Laker.

Struewing said March 3 Tom Linkel of Linkel Co., Morris, thought it would take 10 to 12 hours to clean the streets at a cost of $125 per hour.

Laker asked, “How are you going to get everybody's cars off the streets that day?” Making an announcement on water bills or in church bulletins were two options.

Moeller suggested they try street sweeping this year. “If it's a failure because half the cars are on the street, maybe we don't do it next year.” The council decided to ask Linkel to do the job.

After the banks of Harvey’s Branch Creek near the Vine Street bridge were cleaned up last summer, town leaders were informed in a Indiana Department of Natural Resources letter “more work needs to be done down there,” according to consulting engineer John Graf of Howard Barth & Associates, Greensburg.

“Trees need to be planted and different grass seed put in.” President David Wahman said tall fescue and rye grasses were planted during the dry season. The engineer said DNR suggested legumes, such as alfalfa and clover. “There's a list about what is allowed. Fescue is not permitted.”

The letter added that 220 bur oak, sumac, black walnut and other species of 3- to 4-foot-tall trees need to be planted in the spring 12 feet apart on both sides of the creek from the riprap on out. DNR wants the trees there "to shade the creek and give wildlife a place to live," according to Graf.

Wahman said he liked the current grassy appearance of the banks and was concerned it would be hard to find a person who wanted to mow around that many trees. He asked the engineer, “Do you think there's any chance of negotiating with them?” Graf will respond to DNR, noting officials’ concerns.

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com. To comment on stories, visit batesvilleheraldtribune.com.

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