Eye on Terre Haute for August

Mayor Duke Bennett shares with News 10 about the City of Terre Haute in our monthly segment Eye on Terre Haute.

Jon talks with terre haute mayor duke bennett in our monthly eye on terre haute.

It's been a few months since we've visited with the mayor due to the pandemic.

Coronavirus: mayor says this has been an unpredictable, crazy time with lots of unknowns out there.

Railroad crossings: csx continues repairing railroad crossings around vigo county.

The mayor says he has no real power in getting csx to do anything.

Csx has been laying mile long stretches of new rail, so they have had to cut into the crossings to lay the rail down in the ground.

Then they put asphalt on top until they could do actual final fixing.

So crossing work is in an interim step right now, meaning crossings that have been closed remain rough once they reopen.

Work should be complete by next friday.

Ohio street is particularly a bad crossing.

Road projects: the mayor says the city has completed the big projects like crawford, prairieton, wabash avenue and north 13th.

The next paving project will be keane lane near deming park.

Other small projects will still happen this year.

All funds for big projects have been used up for the year.

Due to covid-19, city hall remains mostly closed to the public.

The mayor says the doors have been opened in the morning for court.

On august 17th, the governor says he plans to open the government complex in indianapolis.

Depending on how things go, the mayor says that would be a target date for terre haute, but it's still not definite.

The mayor says the key is to not get staff or the public infected.

Bennett says things have been going ok with people doing business over the phone and the internet.

He says city officials will meet you in the parking lot to address issues if needed.

We talked with mayor duke bennett about several other topics.

That includes body cameras for police..

I-s-u- homecoming... jon talks with terre haute mayor duke bennett in our monthly eye on terre haute.

It's been a few months since we've visited with the mayor due to the pandemic.

Coronavirus: mayor says this has been an unpredictable, crazy time with lots of unknowns out there.

Railroad crossings: csx continues repairing railroad crossings around vigo county.

The mayor says he has no real power in getting csx to do anything.

Csx has been laying mile long stretches of new rail, so they have had to cut into the crossings to lay the rail down in the ground.

Then they put asphalt on top until they could do actual final fixing.

So crossing work is in an interim step right now, meaning crossings that have been closed remain rough once they reopen.

Work should be complete by next friday.

Ohio street is particularly a bad crossing.

Road projects: the mayor says the city has completed the big projects like crawford, prairieton, wabash avenue and north 13th.

The next paving project will be keane lane near deming park.

Other small projects will still happen this year.

All funds for big projects have been used up for the year.

Due to covid-19, city hall remains mostly closed to the public.

The mayor says the doors have been opened in the morning for court.

On august 17th, the governor says he plans to open the government complex in indianapolis.

Depending on how things go, the mayor says that would be a target date for terre haute, but it's still not definite.

The mayor says the key is to not get staff or the public infected.

Bennett says things have been going ok with people doing business over the phone and the internet.

He says city officials will meet you in the parking lot to address issues more important topics for the city.

The terre haute police department is working on getting body cams. a vendor has been chosen.

The city has applied for a $200,000 grant to help.

The city should know more about signing a contract, getting the equipment, testing, and assigning them to officers by the end of the month.

Body cams should be in use by the end of the year.

The new public safety local option income tax will allow the city to make body cams a reality.

The board of public works will soon discuss the new terre haute police department building more.

Attorney are working on timelines and getting things filed.

Approvals should begin next month.

Indiana state university announced it's canceling homecoming activities this year.

The mayor says the city may still need to have extra security in case anyone still does "the walk" between bars through town.

The city says it will be prepared, but expects this year to be a much lower-keyed activity.

Groundbreaking is still on track for the new casino next month.

The goal is to have it opened by the end of next year.

Plans are moving forward with the convention center.

Most utility work is wrapping up.

8th street will close permanently at the end of this month.

Construction will begin soon after.

A new clinic heading to the valley..

How it's helping those struggling during "eye on terre haute".... in our last half hour... we heard from "mayor duke bennett" on a variety of topics.

That included an update on city offices during the pandemic.... railroad crossing repairs..

And road projects.

"jon swaner" continues the conversation... with the mayor... about more important topics for the city.

The terre haute police department is working on getting body cams. a vendor has been chosen.

The city has applied for a $200,000 grant to help.

The city should know more about signing a contract, getting the equipment, testing, and assigning them to officers by the end of the month.

Body cams should be in use by the end of the year.

The new public safety local option income tax will allow the city to make body cams a reality.

The board of public works will soon discuss the new terre haute police department building more.

Attorney are working on timelines and getting things filed.

Approvals should begin next month.

Indiana state university announced it's canceling homecoming activities this year.

The mayor says the city may still need to have extra security in case anyone still does "the walk" between bars through town.

The city says it will be prepared, but expects this year to be a much lower-keyed activity.

Groundbreaking is still on track for the new casino next month.

The goal is to have it opened by the end of next year.

Plans are moving forward with the convention center.

Most utility work is wrapping up.

8th street will close permanently at the end of this month.

Construction will begin soon after.

A new clinic heading to the valley..

How it's helping those struggling with their mental health..

Coming up after the break.