Residents asked to complete economic survey
The county is asking residents to take an online survey to help it create its economic development plan.
The survey will be active “as long as it makes sense,” said Brown County Redevelopment Commission President Jim Kemp.
It can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/BrownCountyEDPlan.
The survey contains 28 questions, some asking the participant to rate how strongly they feel or pick options from a list, and others that are open-ended. It includes such questions as “Employment opportunities in Brown County are accessible to me,” “What kinds of restaurants and retail are missing?” and “Please describe which types of housing, if any, are needed in Brown County.”
The redevelopment commission is working with Thomas P. Miller and Associates to create this plan. At the very least, the document will include an evaluation of the community’s economic health, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities; economic development recommendations; and specific action steps.
Development of the plan is being funded through a $40,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Council appoints member to parks and rec board
John Kennard is the Brown County Council’s newest appointment to the Brown County Parks and Recreation board.
The council unanimously approved Kennard’s appointment at the March 18 meeting. He applied after Keith Baker resigned from the board earlier in the month, effective immediately.
Due to a 1996 ordinance about political affiliations of boards, the person appointed had to be a registered Republican, council President Dave Redding explained. Redding said after the opening was publicized, the council received a couple of inquiries, but Kennard was the only Republican who applied.
Kennard told the council he’s spent the majority of his life involved in athletics. He began playing volleyball when he was in the fifth grade, he said.
Kennard also served as a county commissioner and was involved in trying to turn the former sock factory in Helmsburg in to a rec center for Brown County. He also has worked at the Brown County Health Department for nearly 20 years.
“We have, as you all know, a serious issue with opioids. Kids can either play with drugs or play with balls and bats. I’m a big advocate of parks and rec. I would like to see it much more involved with the community, so that’s why I put my name in,” Kennard said.
Community festival to return to Helmsburg in August
On Aug. 24, downtown Helmsburg will be the site of a festival featuring motorcycle and classic cars.
The Brown County Commissioners voted to allow Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner to work with the Helmsburg Community Development Group to close Main Street to vehicle traffic not associated with the festival.
The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Commissioner Diana Biddle said the theme this year is “Helmsburg Hog Heaven.”
The purpose of closing Main Street to vehicle traffic would be to allow the motorcycles and classic cars to park along the north and south side of Main Street between the Helmsburg General Store and Eagle Storage.
The development group stated in a letter to the commissioners that they intend to leave the road open to allow emergency vehicle access.
