AUBURN, Ind. (WLKI)- Police officers in Auburn, Butler and Waterloo will receive updated encrypted radio equipment through a $150,000 state grant.
The Auburn Board of Works authorized Police Chief Cory Heffelfinger to accept the grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security during its Aug. 18 meeting.
According to Auburn Mayor Dave Clark, the upgraded radios could be operating by early 2027.
The grant will allow all three police departments to replace older communications equipment with encrypted devices.
Butler and Waterloo will purchase their own radios and provide the documentation to the Auburn Police Department. Once Auburn receives the grant reimbursement, the two departments will invoice Auburn for their shares of the funding.
Heffelfinger thanked Auburn Police Capt. Sean Miller, employees in the mayor's and clerk's offices and representatives of other agencies for their work on the application.
The funding was awarded after Auburn's third attempt to secure the grant.
In other business, the Board of Works approved several requests from Auburn Essential Services.
The board authorized a three-year service agreement for 800 W. 15th St., a utility permit agreement with the DeKalb County Drainage Board at County Road 19 and a service agreement with Cogent.
Board members also approved the purchase of $611,062 in routing equipment from CDW to replace existing infrastructure.
Auburn Essential Services will finance the equipment through a lease-to-own agreement with Cisco Systems. The agreement calls for five annual interest-free payments of $122,212.50.
The board also accepted an enforcement order involving a property at 1008 S. Main St.
The order requires property owner Tammy Hindman to provide a detailed timeline for addressing problems inside the home, hire a professional remediation service and remove animal waste from the backyard.
Hindman was given 60 days to address the conditions. The home could be considered for demolition if the requirements are not met.
Hindman told the board she had bred Great Danes for 26 years. She said someone assigned to care for the dogs and property while she was away had failed to do so. Hindman said she believed the home needed to be cleaned and disinfected rather than demolished.
Clark encouraged her to remain in regular contact with the city's Department of Building, Planning and Development.
The board also approved an Electric Department request to purchase 500 meters for $57,500 and meter software for $47,315.
Electric Department General Manager Justin Fry presented the fourth-quarter tracker adjustment. Clark said the initial adjustment would reduce rates by approximately 0.6%.
A larger reduction could take effect within about two months if an additional tracker adjustment receives approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Street Superintendent Tyler Brandon presented the final change order for improvements to ramps required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project's cost increased by $1,739, bringing the final price to $60,144.
Fire Chief Doug Cox received approval for a generator service agreement with Cummins Sales & Service. The agreement will cost $1,490.50 for both fire stations.
The city also approved a $7,108.33 fence around the north wellfield generator and a two-year generator maintenance agreement costing $1,720 annually.
Clark announced that the Downtown Auburn Business Association will hold downtown trick-or-treating from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Citywide trick-or-treating will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening.