CATLIN — The Catlin Village Board heard more information Tuesday about the status of the Allison Street water-looping project, which is now permanently being put on hold.

Mayor Clayton Woodard said officials have learned that when easements were originally obtained, the title search process was not properly done. One owner of a needed easement did not sign and now will not grant rights to the area that needs to be accessed.

Woodard recommended to the board that the project be put on hold because alternatives will cost the city a substantial amount of money.

More than 200 feet of water-piping has already been laid for the project, which has been ongoing in the village for years. A total of 400 more feet of piping, connections to loop the area and two or three fire hydrants were still planned in the Allison Street and Martin Court area.

The project was deemed necessary for the area as a safety measure to improve water pressure to fire hydrants and make existing fire hydrants more reliable. It was also to have increased the number of fire hydrants and allow looping of dead-end water lines.

There are several apartment buildings and up to 10 homes in the affected area.

Commissioner Tom Taylor said, had the project been completed, residents in the area would have seen a reduction in their insurance rates due to the increased fire-safety measures.

“It’s not what we want,” said Commissioner Barry Voorhees. “We were doing this to benefit them.”

In other business, commissioners:

-- Welcomed Alisa Prosser as the newest member of the Catlin Village Council Tuesday after she was sworn in as a commis-sioner.

Prosser won the recent contested election and replaces Jim Miller, who did not seek re-election.

“I just wanted to get involved,” said Prosser.

Prosser said she is active with her children, volunteering at the school and being involved with Boy Scouts. She became interested in local government, had questions and concerns and wanted to learn more about it, so decided to run for the position.

-- Purchased two AR-15 rifles and ammunition for the police department for a price not to exceed $2,000 from Ray O’Herron Company of Danville.

The upgraded rifles will be placed in each of the squad cars and training will be administered to all officers before use.

-- Approved having the annual city audit performed by DBH and Associates of Danville at a cost not to exceed $5,700.

-- Heard that Woodard will meet with Todd Schultz of Schultz Nursery of Danville Friday for a free landscape design for the Catlin Park. Plans will be made for improvements around the flag pole and some new trees.



WHAT’S NEXT

The Catlin Village Council meets at 7 p.m. May 19 at the village hall.