Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Albany public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in parks rec
Passing of longtime planner John Rosenbarker
The board acknowledged the deaths of John Rosenbarger, who worked for the city for 48 years, and Dennis Smith, who worked in traffic and the building department.
Playground and flood-zone park planning
The river is at 19.58 feet and dropping, and crews are testing equipment and turning gates ahead of flood season, which starts November 1. The district says it's in good shape going in.
Downtown event season
Two back-to-back downtown events got permits — the city's All Hallows Eve Celebration on October 24 and the Schmitt Furniture Birthday Bash on October 23, with street closures and a quick overnight teardown before Trunk Retreat.
Ralph Hines Memorial Car Show rain date and riverfront protection
The car show's last-minute request for a Sunday rain date sparked debate over wet-weather parking on the riverfront grass. The board approved it with strict conditions requiring hard-surface parking and cleanup responsibility.
Mt. Tabor ("Dike") Park groundbreaking
A groundbreaking for the park project at the former QRS site is set for September 16 at 10 a.m., with the boat ramp lot serving as primary parking.
Five active redevelopment projects
Public works facility, animal shelter, Silver Street turf fields, mountain bike park, and RV park are all moving — several breaking ground this summer. The RV park aims to draw overnight visitors to the riverfront.
Special Event Permits
Four events got permits: a veterans ruck march, a gospel celebration tied to America's 250th, the summer concert series, and a recovery-awareness concert. Expect downtown crowds and street closures on those dates.
Fairview Cemetery columbarium
Construction on the long-awaited columbarium at Fairview Cemetery starts in the next few weeks, with a waiting list already forming — and it adds a new revenue stream for the cemetery.
New Albany High School 5k special event, August 1
A special event permit request for a New Albany High School 5k run on Saturday, August 1, was on the board's docket. Permits like this cover street closures and event logistics.
QR code historic tour project
A QR code walking tour of historic sites was on the new business agenda.