FIGHTING ADDICTION: New Albany Commits to Facility Improvements with Token Club to Expand Services that Fight Substance Abuse

FIGHTING ADDICTION: New Albany Commits to Facility Improvements with Token Club to Expand Services that Fight Substance Abuse

The City of New Albany with the assistance of American Rescue Plan funds is partnering with the New Albany/Floyd County Token Club to combat the negative effects of addiction in our community with facility improvements and additional services. The New Albany Token Club is a local non-profit that serves hundreds of residents a week, providing drug and alcohol treatment programming that includes substance misuse treatment, education classes, and more to help combat the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in New Albany.

“New Albany has been at the forefront of the opioid crisis and fighting the negative effects of addiction, and this is just one more step that we are doing in helping those who have been impacted by this crisis,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “The Token Club is an exceptional group of local volunteers that help those in our community who are dealing with addiction, substance abuse, and other serious behavioral and mental health issues, and we are proud to be able to bring these dollars into service helping those most in need.”

In the first full year of the pandemic in the United States, through April 2021, the CDC states that more than 99,000 people died from drug overdoses. This represents an increase of nearly 30% from those who passed away in the previous 12 months. Factors related to the pandemic, such as social isolation, stress, and decreased access to substance use disorder treatment and emergency services made the problem worse. Nonprofits like the Token Club play an important role in helping people to get the treatment they need by increasing access to care, reducing hospitalizations, and decreasing expensive emergency room visits.

The Token Club operates at 506 Pearl Street, and their current building is in dire need of repairs. In early 2022, Mayor Gahan and administration staff toured the facility to learn more about the programs offered, as well as the current condition of the building. The club is run by an unpaid, volunteer staff who is dedicated to serving those in need in our community.

The United States Treasury dictated rules for utilizing American Rescue Plan funding, and this action meets criteria set by the federal guidelines. All uses of American Rescue Plan funds are reviewed by outside counsel to ensure that the City of New Albany is abiding by federal guidelines.

SUB-ZERO WEATHER FORECAST WARRANTS ADDITIONAL CREWS AND SAFETY MEASURES:

SUB-ZERO WEATHER FORECAST WARRANTS ADDITIONAL CREWS AND SAFETY MEASURES:

“Frigid weather is headed our way – everyone needs to be prepared, and that means looking out for your neighbors. Safety is a priority,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

The White Flag/Cold Weather shelter is operating at 1902 Corydon Pike. For more information, or to volunteer to help at the White Flag Shelter, please call 812-202-6589 or visit www.soinhomeless.org

The City of New Albany and AMR Medical Transport Service will begin staffing additional medical personnel and ambulances this afternoon during the predicted extreme winter weather. The ambulances have been thoroughly examined by fleet services to ensure they are ready for the cold temperatures, and additional winter weather supplies will be stocked in all ambulances. Additionally, the vehicles may serve as emergency transportation to white flag/cold weather shelters if needed.

Additional police personnel will also be moving throughout the city helping where needed. Street Crews have begun preparing roadways for expected winter weather. Please use caution while traveling during today and tomorrow’s winter storms. Current forecasts are calling for the snow to begin around 7pm or 8pm tonight.

Please be cautious when using space heaters in your home. To help prevent pipes freezing in your home, run a small drip of water on faucets and open cabinets.

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE DISTILLING/SAZERAC ANNOUNCES $78 MILLION EXPANSION, 50 NEW JOBS IN NEW ALBANY!

Northwest Ordinance Distilling, a member of the Sazerac family, announced its intention to once again expand its production facility in New Albany at the former General Mills Pillsbury plant.

The $78 million expansion will better allow the company to meet market-demand for their product, and will also bring an additional 50 full-time employees to New Albany!

“Northwest Ordinance Distilling has established itself not only as an exceptional employer, but a reliable community partner in the City of New Albany," stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

“The plant now employs more than 350 workers at wages averaging at or above the Floyd County average. With this new announcement following on the heels of significant expansions in each of the last two years, I am excited about the potential for continued success and growth for our friends at Northwest Ordinance Distilling,” he added.

“We’re thrilled to be growing Northwest Ordinance Distilling yet again,” said James Hartman, plant general manager. “As Sazerac enters its next phase of growth, the Northwest Ordinance Distilling processing and bottling plant has the capacity and scalability that make it ideally positioned for investment and job creation to address production growth to meet demand.

"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the State of Indiana, the City of New Albany, and One Southern Indiana, and are excited to once again increase our manufacturing footprint and our workforce with steady, good-paying jobs, with wages at or above the Floyd County average.”

The company was approved for tax abatements, which will allow it to phase in its increased real and property taxes over time. The abatements offer the company an estimated savings of just over $4 million on real estate taxes over the next 10 years, and nearly $1.9 million in personal property taxes over the next 5 years, as approved by the New Albany City Council. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is working to finalize additional incentives to support the company’s continued growth in Indiana.

“Today’s announcement is a testament to the New Albany community, the southeast Indiana region and the state’s competitive economy,” said Ann Lathrop, chief strategy officer at the IEDC.

“Northwest Ordinance Distilling’s commitment to growth will further advance the region’s quality of place and provide more quality career opportunities for Hoosiers.”

Wendy Dant Chesser, President and CEO of One Southern Indiana. said that "From locating its new facility in New Albany in 2018, to major expansions in 2020 and 2021, they have demonstrated continued confidence in our workforce, government and community. Their decision to expand here yet again, and so quickly, is a powerful testament to the people and the business environment of southern Indiana. As always, 1si stands ready to assist them in any way we can.”

Northwest Ordinance Distilling is part of the Sazerac family, one of America’s oldest family-owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada.

Mayor Gahan Presents Need for New Police HQ to City Council

Mayor Gahan Presents Need for New Police HQ to City Council

At tonight’s New Albany City Council meeting, Mayor Gahan’s administration will present details to members and discuss the need for a new Police Headquarters.

“New Albany is a safe place to live and raise a family, and we are committed to making New Albany even safer than it has been before,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “When completed, this will be the first stand-alone Police Station constructed in the history of New Albany, and we are excited to bring these expanded police services to residents of our city.”

New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey is set to give an overview of the current needs of the Police Department. Since the 1960s, the New Albany Police Department has been renting space from Floyd County in the Criminal Justice Building located on Hauss Square.

“I’ve spoken with multiple nearby Police Departments who have undergone recent police station construction projects, including Jeffersonville and Clarksville, and I think our team has done a great job of putting together a new headquarters that will meet the needs of both the department and the people of New Albany for decades to come,” stated New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey.

Chief Bailey has previously stated that the new location will allow for more and better training for NAPD officers, provide new services for the community, and increase New Albany’s mental health and crisis response teams, among other benefits.

Floyd County officials announced in October of last year their intentions to renovate the Criminal Justice Center, and they have new plans for the space that the New Albany police Department currently operates out of. 

Members of the council will also hear details regarding site selection, financial projections, and the next steps that can be taken to bring this project to fruition.

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