ORIGIN PARK OFFICIALS REFUSE TO MEET WITH CITY, DESPITE UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM COUNCIL REQUESTING MEETING

The New Albany City Council, composed of Democrats, Republicans, an Independent, and a Libertarian, unanimously passed a resolution at a special meeting on Tuesday November 15th asking River Heritage Conservancy/Origin Park officials to meet with City officials to discuss alternatives to removing the historic Glenwood Park Dam in Silver Creek.

Origin Park officials refused to meet and decided to move forward with the demolition of the historic Glenwood Park Dam.

Origin Park, a Clark County initiative, has been pursuing destroying the over 100-year-old, historic dam in New Albany for months despite protests from the City of New Albany. The state-appointed Floyd County Historian, as well as the state-led Indiana Landmarks Historic Preservation Office have both gone on record asking that the dam should be preserved. The dam is NOT on Indiana Department of Natural Resources low-head dam roster. Additionally, it should be noted that even though Origin Park aims to destroy the dam in New Albany, there are no current permit to remove the larger, more dangerous low-head dam along Silver Creek that is located by Blackiston Mill in Clark County, which IS on DNR’s roster.

Before the final City Council resolution was even signed by Mayor Gahan, Origin Park officials, including Kent Lanum, Vern Eswine, and Susan Rademacher issued a press release stating that “River Heritage Conservancy declines” to meet and discuss any alternatives.

“There are many outstanding issues that the City of New Albany believes should be resolved before any attempts to remove the historic dam are made,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

At last night’s New Albany City Council meeting, Mayor Gahan provided the council with a letter detailing the City’s ongoing efforts to meet with Origin Park officials, as well as a timeline regarding recent efforts surrounding the historic Glenwood Park dam.

Key details from the letter include:

1. The ownership of the historic Glenwood Park Dam is still under question.

2. The dam has historical significance, as noted by comments from the state-appointed Floyd County Historian as well as the State of Indiana’s “Indiana Landmarks” historic preservation organization.

3. There may be potential contaminants that could be released and pollute the local waterways if the dam is destroyed.

4. The City of New Albany has invested both time and resources into the development of the area for nearly a decade, including the nearly-finished Silver Creek Landing and Providence Way improvements, of which removal of the dam could compromise.

5. While the City of New Albany recognizes and agrees that some low-head dams can be dangerous, the historic Glenwood Park Dam is not listed on the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s low-head dam roster. In addition, the City of New Albany has proposed safe alternatives to the removal of the dam, including a conversion to a “rock-arch rapids” which scientists and engineers agree improve safety near dams.

6. The removal of the dam could reduce water levels and result in fewer days to paddle, kayak, canoe, or conduct other forms of water recreation along Silver Creek.

7. Origin Park has now received over $8 million in public funding through the State of Indiana’s READI grant. By accepting $8 million in residents tax dollars, Origin Park officials should conduct some form of public-input sessions before tax dollars are spent on a project with no elected oversight.

8. The Indiana Environmental Resiliency Council warns of climate change impacts and environmental risks related to water supply, and removal of the dam could potentially cause the City to lose the water supply that is currently in place along Silver Creek.

The full letter and additional documentation can be found by clicking here: FULL LETTER FROM MAYOR GAHAN

Leaf Season Underway!

Leaf season has begun, and the New Albany Stormwater Department will be running extra crews on the leaf removal and recycling program this week. Leaves are falling throughout the city, and crews are working to remove the fallen leaves before they enter our water ways, causing potential contamination or localized flooding.

The Stormwater Department will collect leaves piled in the right of way next to the street. Please do not pile leaves in curbs, gutters, or the street, as this can enter the stormwater system and cause blockages. Additionally, residents can place up to 10 trash bags of leaves out that will be collected during normal trash days.

Best of all, by bunching leaves in the right of way for the City to collect, you can help turn those leaves into something useful. Leaves picked up by the City’s leaf program are recycled and processed into mulch and fertilizers to be used in the future.

Thank you for your assistance as we work to make our city even more clean and beautiful. For additional information, and to learn exactly when crews will be in your area, please call the Stormwater Department at 812-945-1989.

City Welcomes New Economic Development Director

The City of New Albany is pleased to welcome Claire Johnson as the new Economic Development Director.

Ms. Johnson has a history of civic engagement and community building, most recently serving as Capital Project Manager for the Town of Clarksville’s Redevelopment Department. She served for multiple years as the Neighborhood Initiatives Coordinator for the Redevelopment Office with the City of New Albany.

Ms. Johnson has co-authored published reports for Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Resilience and Community Services, the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, the Center for Environmental Policy and Management, the University of Louisville, and other institutions.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from The Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies from the University of Louisville, and will complete her Master of Urban Planning from the University of Louisville in 2023.

“We are excited to welcome Claire Johnson back to New Albany as our lead Economic Development officer,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “Her years of study and professional experience will serve the people well as we plan for the future of our River City.”

Harvest Homecoming: Discount Ride Coupons Available Now!

DISCOUNT RIDE COUPONS AVAILABLE NOW!

Harvest Homecoming is just around the corner! The City of New Albany will once again be offering DISCOUNT COUPONS on all-day ride passes for Harvest’s Carnival Rides near the YMCA.

All-day ride passes are available on Tuesday, October 4th and Wednesday, October 5th. Rides are open from 5pm-10pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the cost for all-day passes are $25.

$5 discount coupons are available for pickup starting TODAY at Silver Street Park (2043 Silver Street) or Griffin Recreation Center (1140 Griffin Street). These coupons will act as a $5 discount on the cost of all-day Ride Passes when presented to the ride operators.  Coupons are limited to the first 1000 distributed by the City Parks Department.

Pick up your coupon during normal business hours at either the Griffin Street Center (10am - 4pm) or Silver Street Park (8am – 4pm).

The full ride schedule, and other information about upcoming Harvest Homecoming events can be found at: https://www.harvesthomecoming.com/

Technology Company Expands HQ in Downtown New Albany

RxLightning, an award-winning technology company, is establishing an expanded headquarters in downtown New Albany! 

“This news represents another milestone for the city and the region,” stated Jeff Gahan, Mayor of the City of New Albany. “We welcome RxLightning to our downtown as they continue to build on their success and growth."

This expansion will add up to 175 new jobs over five years, paying nearly twice the average wage in the county. RxLightning will invest over $600,000 in software, hardware, and more into a three-story historic building at 227 Pearl Street in New Albany.

“This is an incredibly exciting move for RxLightning,” said Julia Regan, the company’s co-founder and CEO. “We've proven that we can accelerate the speed at which patients get access to medicine they need.  Our new expanded headquarters will allow us to continue our growth and reach more providers.  The State of Indiana, the City of New Albany and One Southern Indiana have been amazing partners in this endeavor.  We considered other locations, but we’re thrilled to remain here in southern Indiana and provide steady, good paying positions, with wages at nearly twice the Floyd County average.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered RxLightning up to $4,000,000 in Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits which may be certified over a period of up to ten years. These incentives are based on the expected creation of 175 net new full-time positions for eligible Hoosiers, and are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.  In addition, the City of New Albany offered RxLightning training grants of $120,000 equally divided over five years. 

“This announcement is incredibly exciting for Indiana,” said Jim Staton, SVP and chief business development officer for the IEDC. “RxLightning is already having an outsized impact on the healthcare industry in the United States, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to providing outstanding career opportunities for Hoosiers in southern Indiana.”

Wendy Dant Chesser, President and CEO of One Southern Indiana said, “RxLightning CEO Julia Regan was selected last month as an Endeavor Entrepreneur through an unanimous vote at the 94th International Selection Panel (ISP) held in Greece — the first woman in the Midwest to achieve that honor.  Her company’s growth continues to be remarkable, and her commitment to this region is a testament to the ongoing vitality of southern Indiana  As always, 1si has been delighted to be a part of this process, and looks forward to assisting in any way we can.”