Duke Energy changing out electric meters
If you come home to your clocks flashing on an otherwise clear day, it might be because Duke Energy’s been there.
The company is changing out all its residential electric meters for new, digital ones that can be read remotely, said Sean Cassiday, utility coordinator for the Town of Nashville. The town did a similar project last year with its water meters.
All Duke Energy customers from Nashville to Columbus will be affected, Cassiday told the audience at the April 18 town council meeting. Residents should receive a postcard in the mail notifying them of the upcoming change and other communication as their visit comes near.
The new meters will allow Duke Energy to show consumers their hourly and daily usage data so that they can make “informed energy choices,” reads a handout given to local officials. It also will eliminate the need for Duke employees to walk onto each customer’s property each month to record their energy usage; data will be transmitted remotely.
To learn more about the meters, visit duke-energy.com/our-company/about-us/smart-grid/smart-meter.
Highway department plans to purchase equipment
The highway department will be purchasing new equipment this year.
Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner told the county commissioners on April 3 that he had been looking at a side arm mower tractor, but hadn’t been able to find exactly what he needed. If he finds one, he plans to buy it out of this year’s budget.
He also reported that this year, the department’s red Mack trucks would be paid off and that he will be looking into buying a new road grader at that time. He estimated a new grader would cost around $350,000.
He said the department’s two graders have over 10,000 hours on them and are getting worn out.
“What I would like to do then is to get a grader to take that slot (of the Mack truck lease) because the money is already budgeted. Then, we’ll start looking at improving road graders from there,” he said.
Magner also said he had budgeted to buy a new field services truck this year. He found a rebuilt truck for $34,000. A field services truck is used when crews have to work on bridges or a culvert. “For what we use it for, we can’t justify going out and buying a new one,” he said. A new field services truck would cost around $160,000, he said.
The commissioners gave Magner the approval to purchase the field services truck out of the motor vehicle highway fund.
Rezone of State Road 46 East parcel approved
The Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a request to rezone 2 acres of primary residential property on State Road 46 East to general business at their meeting April 3.
The petitioners were property owners Jerry and Debbie Fleetwood, who also own Fleetwood Excavating. The property up for rezone is on the north side of the road, about 500 feet west of the intersection with Miller Road, said Planning Director Chris Ritzmann.
The property is vacant except for a mobile home and utility shed. Fleetwood Excavating is to the west of the property and is zoned industrial. To the west of Fleetwood Excavating is the Brown County Antique Mall.
The property also has a septic system, electrical and water service. Ritzmann said the petitioners were working with the Indiana Department of Transportation on developing a commercial driveway.
“A change to general business zoning will authorize a number of uses at the location including residential, agricultural, light industrial, public and a variety of business uses with and without the necessity of special exception,” Ritzmann said.
The Brown County Plan Commission made a favorable recommendation to the commissioners.
“It’s probably the best use for that land. I believe it will contribute to the conservation of property values and it’s a responsible development,” commissioner Jerry Pittman said before a vote was taken.
Commissioner President Dave Anderson was not at the meeting.
