Town Activities and Information
Water Crisis
August 2021 Update:
Council President John Harshbarger informed those in attendance at the July 26th council meeting of a court decision to the Preliminary Injunction filed last year regarding the drinking water contamination in the Town of Andrews. Judge Chad Kukelhan, in Adams County, denied the Town’s motion on February 18, 2021. There is no explanation for the filing delay and resulting late notification to the Town and Taft Law. Apparently, the Judge felt no emergency existed since test results never indicated finished water with VOCs present over the State MCL, but right at the maximum allowed. The Town must now wait until the full hearing on the case which was filed in 2016. Meanwhile, Council has decided to proceed on their own with relocating the wells to a clean water aquifer. Multiple funding sources are being pursued.
May 2021 Water Quality Update: These are the latest results of the Town’s required VOC testing of the well water. Vinyl Chloride and cis-1,2-Dichloroethene remain present in the finished drinking water, however the numbers are not above the State’s MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) according to IDEM.
May 27, 2021 Report VOCS in Drinking Water
Follow the legal proceedings and read court documents at http://www.mycase.in.gov. Search under Docket # 35D01-2006-CT-000338.
Adams County Circuit Court Judge Chad E. Kukelhan will announce his decision on the Town’s Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction in 2021.
The Town of Andrews’ Preliminary Injunction will be heard on November 9, 2020 in Decatur, Indiana at the Adams County Courthouse beginning at 8:30 AM. Your attendance and support is encouraged, however seating in the court room will be limited due to COVID-19 regulations.
Update: July 16, 2020
2020-07-16 John Harshbarger (Town) Letter to John Baron (Raytheon)
Update: July 10, 2020
2020-07-09 John Harshbarger (Town) Letter to John Baron (Raytheon)
Update: July 7, 2020
Supplemental Statement of Facts in Support of the Town’s Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Update: July 1, 2020
Letter to IDEM – Mr. Prater
July 4th Holiday Weekend Notice
Updates: June 30, 2020
Important Notice from the Town of Andrews Concerning its Drinking Water
Court – OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING the Plaintiffs_ Emergency Motion to Remand
Update: June 25, 2020
Plaintiffs’ Letter to IDEM June 25, 2020
Exhibits to Letter:
Ex. #1. 2020-06-24 Affidavit of Thomas Wuensch
Ex. #2 UTA Voluntary Remediation Application
Ex. #3. 2020-06-24 Affidavit of John Harshbarger
Ex. #4 2020-06-24 Affidavit of Dr. Wells
Ex. #5 J. Baron Letter to Town of Andrews
Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion to Remand
Brief in Support of Emergency Motion to Remand to State Court
As of early July, IDEM tests on the town’s finished water show all VOCs are below the State’s recommended mcl. According to Indiana standards, the water is “safe” to use now that the air stripper is back online.
However, the Town of Andrews advises residents not to consume water due to the potential presence of Vinyl Chloride, cis-1,2-DCE, and possibly TCE in the water. Please do not drink or cook with the water if you are serviced by the town’s water utility. To limit possible exposure to vapors, use lukewarm (not hot) water for laundry, dishes, and brief showers or baths. Do not heat or boil the water. All of these measures are precautionary until the town can guarantee the water is being properly treated with a reliable method to remove VOCs before entering the water plant. The current air stripper equipment and building is owned and operated by Raytheon Technologies, formerly United Technologies, and is not accessible by the Town of Andrews utility employees. In the past, the Town was not notified and an electronic warning system was never put in place for when the air stripper fails.
A complaint was filed in Huntington Superior Court June 19, 2020. The complaint will be heard on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
Town of Andrews Indiana’s Verified Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Brief in Support Verified Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction
John Harshbarger Affidavit
Laury Powell Affidavit
Dallas Township Trustee
Julie Newsome
Office number 260-786-1866. Please leave a voicemail.
Food Distribution Notice
This service has been discontinued for now due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Please contact LOVE, Inc. in Huntington at 260-356-0933 for assistance.
The Shepherd’s Food Pantry will distribute food on the third Thursday of each month to Andrews/Dallas Township residents only at the Lions Clubhouse located at 365 Leedy Lane between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon. No appointment is necessary. First come, first serve and you must bring your own container.
Election Voting Information
As a registered voter of Huntington County you may vote at any Vote Center that is convenient for you. There are extended days and times for your convenience. Any eligible voter can vote at any available early voting location. Questions? You may call the Huntington County Election Office at 260-358-4820 or visit their Facebook page ” Vote Centers of Huntington County.”
The Huntington County Clerk will hold an Early Vote Center at the Andrews Town Hall on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.