New Harmony invests in the town

By Lois Mittino Gray

Members of the New Harmony Town Council voted unanimously to spend their incoming Economic Development money focusing on tourism as the town’s main industry for the next three years. Councilors agreed at their February 17, meeting to earmark $40,000 annually to support marketing for three years. The town will enter into an agreement with One New Harmony, formerly called the New Harmony Business Associates, to donate the funds for marketing support, planning and organization of the town’s three major festivals and other events, and hiring of a professional director.

Town Council President Jeff Smotherman said in past years, the $55,000 the town receives for economic development was used annually for infrastructure improvements. “We had a special meeting last week to discuss this and I feel funding the town’s tourism industry is the right thing to focus on now. We are growing and we have a need for somebody to do the work, not always depending on volunteers, like we have done for the decades I have had a business here.”

Smotherman noted this will not only benefit business owners, but most townspeople and members of the 80 organizations that make up One New Harmony. “Nonprofit organizations and churches benefit from our events. Churches have sold many apple dumplings and pork sandwiches at our festivals. I know, I’ve eaten many,” he said with a smile.

Councilwoman Lora Arneberg explained that the organization changed its name from New Harmony Business Associates to One New Harmony a few years ago to reflect the broad swathe it covers in membership and not just businesses. “We can all coordinate how our money will be spent and what to offer in town this way,” she noted. “We have a healthy nest egg and we need to make an investment in our town and this will fulfill two of the five economic development goals cited in the 2025 plan.” She is the current President of ONH, but the agreement between the two entities will be signed by ONH Vice-President Alex Gale, since Arneberg sits on the Council. She said she “thoroughly explored getting some money through the county’s Innkeeper Tax, but that was not possible.”

Councilman Tom Williams stated, “New Harmony is a unique place and we need to do our part. I believe everybody in town will benefit from this. It contributes to our vitality as a small town. We’re down a bridge and a school and we need to give back.” Councilwoman Connie Weinzapfel added, “We need to remind everyone tourism is our industry. Thankfully, we still have young people starting businesses and great volunteers to help out.”

The motion to enter the agreement passed 5-0 and was met with a hearty round of applause from the audience at Town Hall.

Applause also greeted a decision by councilors to approve up to $3,000 funding to erect a fifty foot flagpole next to the welcome sign at the east entrance of town of town as a tribute to the 250th Anniversary of our country’s founding. It will be easily seen from the Bypass and Highway 69. Greg Wilson, who proposes to do the flagpole project with Greg Reynolds, appeared at the meeting to describe his plans and answer questions on it. The pair has erected many flagpoles in the last several years and said they can do it in about 30-40 days. It will fly a 10 foot by fifteen foot flag valued at $300.00. Wilson said he would personally donate $500 toward the project. Other private donations would be welcome, too.

There was discussion about the whole appearance of the entrance area and the fact that the Fire Department has a smaller flag up already in that vicinity. Weinzapfel felt they might want to take the other one down, since it would look “dinky and tacky’ next to the new one.

Town Marshal Leo Gonzalez spoke to the audience to thank them for contacting him about suspicious activity. “I appreciate how fast the word got out, but I want to remind you to call Posey County Dispatch 911 first. They will contact me and we would have it on record.” He will be starting golf cart registration in April.

Weinzapfel said she was disappointed to learn that Church Street will not be paved by INDOT now until 2028. Town employees hurried to fix the water lines under the street before paving was supposed to be done this summer.

Williams said the town’s rest room project in Murphy Park is now on hold and there are new signs to put up along the river trail. “We had an unfortunate situation in the Boy Scout Cabin Annex room when the water lines cracked and exploded this winter. It wasn’t discovered by Jonathan Weber until 34,000 gallons of water was spilled. It is town property and we are working to dry it out and repair the flooring and plumbing. It is covered by insurance and we have a $1,000 deductible. The Boy Scouts do not use it much. We should be positive and look for another use for the place,” he speculated.

Arneberg said the city’s new website should be finished in a month or so. Utility bill paying will go online May 18 after employees get training on April 27 on the software at Town Hall. It will be closed on that day. Residents will still be able to pay bills in person at the Hall by check, cash, or credit card. She is looking into many available grant possibilities from the Lilly Foundation and the Posey County Community Foundation for town improvements.

New Harmony Parks and Trails Board President Jean Maudlin announced New Harmony has been awarded Tree City status for 2025 once again.

The Council voted to hire USDI Engineering to do all the paperwork and reporting on the gas utility and to do things such as leak surveys. Town employees would still do line inspections. The service would cost $3500 upfront and $2,000 per month afterwards. Councilman Rod Clark will look into answering questions brought up by others before signing any contract.

The next meeting is slated for Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.