Purpose and Need for O’Brien Street Rehabilitation

Project Need:

The following concerns demonstrate the need for this project:

• No sidewalk exists on either side of O’Brien Street for the limits of this project, between CR 340N and Village Circle Avenue. With new sidewalk being installed along O’Brien Street from Village Circle Avenue to 4th Street, this segment will present a gap in the City’s pedestrian network.
• Curbs exist only in isolated locations and are typically very short due to roadway overlays inhibiting drainage near Freeman Avenue. Very few drainage structures exist, and where they do exist, there is often no evident outfall to a defined system. Most of the corridor features no drainage (open ditch or enclosed), and runoff collects at the side of the road and infiltrates or ponds.
• The condition of the pavement was rated as a 6 on the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) rating scale in 2018 and no improvements have been made since that time. The pavement was constructed in the 1930s and has been milled and overlaid several times. The pavement is at the end of its service life and maintenance cycle.

Project Purpose:

This project aims to provide pedestrian connectivity to improve pedestrian mobility to and from residential, commercial, and school facilities located along or near O’Brien Street. The project also aims to improve the roadway condition and drainage and to lengthen its service life.

Project Description:

This alternative consists of a full-depth reconstruction of pavement, curb and gutter on each side, and a sidewalk on the west side of the roadway. The sidewalk along the west side from Burkart Bypass Southern Roundabout to South Park Drive will be ten feet wide with a five-foot-wide buffer to the back of the curb. In some locations along the west side from South Park Drive to Village Circle Drive, the sidewalk will transition to a six-foot-wide sidewalk adjacent to the back of the curb with no buffer. ADA-compliant curb ramps will be constructed on each side of each street crossing, and sidewalk transitions will be used at each driveway crossing. The northern railroad crossing will have a sidewalk adjacent to the road on the west side only. The railroad flashing warning with a gate arm will be installed west of sidewalk and the gate arm will span across the sidewalk and travel lane. At the southern railroad crossing the asphalt trail is separated from the roadway curb. This crossing is being coordinated with the City and the Freeman Municipal Airport Authority who owns the spur and crossing. It is anticipated the trail will remain separated and existing railroad warning signs and markings will be re-installed. If a crossing gate is installed it will be installed between the road and the trail and will not span across the pedestrian path. The drainage for the proposed roadway section will consist of a curb and gutter on each side throughout the project limits, regardless of sidewalk placement. Therefore, the roadway will be drained by either curb inlets or an enclosed drainage system that connects to the existing storm sewer.

Environmental Draft for Road Services Document (40MB)

2025-2026 Mayor's Youth Council Student Leadership

The 2025-26 Seymour Youth Council met for its first meeting Aug. 19. After some fun introductions, Mayor Matt Nicholson talked about some of the people from Seymour who have gone on to do incredible things in their fields to serve as inspiration to the students.

Kendra Zumhingst, chair of the Seymour Oktoberfest, Inc., spoke about the upcoming festival and all of the hard work it takes year-round to put on the event. This year each youth council member will have volunteer opportunities at the Oktoberfest from setting up to tearing down and everything in between.

Also, this year, youth council will be exploring topics and issues youth are concerned with and coming up with videos and social media posts to share this information and ideas with the community. The first two topics will be the lack of activities available for teenagers and crime.

This year's council is made up of Olivia Compton, AnnMarie Shuler, Kayce Underwood, Reann Hons, Kelsie Napier, Briley Compton, Brooklyn Howell, Brianna Gomez, Bridget Deaton, Kenna Bohle, Yuletzi Ramirez and Velinda Baltazar. Absent were Peyton Croquart and Bailey Nowland. 

Seymour Yellow Tulip Project Grant

Indiana American Water Proudly Recognizes American Water Charitable Foundation State Strategic Impact Grantee Community Foundation of Jackson County.

The Grant is earmarked for Seymour’s Yellow Tulip Project to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness

Yellow tulips have blossomed into a powerful symbol in the mental health community, representing hope and the fight against the stigma surrounding mental illness. So, when a member of the Key Club at Seymour High School planted the idea of a community yellow tulip project over two years ago, city leaders were eager to cultivate this initiative.

Starting in the fall of 2023, the first 1,000 yellow tulip bulbs were planted in the city roundabout on South Walnut Street, followed by another 1,000 bulbs planted in the roundabout on South O’Brien Street.

Now, thanks to an American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF) State Strategic Impact Grant, nominated by Indiana American Water, the City of Seymour will be receiving a $10,000 grant to help the Yellow Tulip Project flourish to completion. This funding, made possible through an AWCF donation to the Community Foundation of Jackson County, will allow the project to plant deeper roots and spread its message of hope even further.

“Thank you to the American Water Charitable Foundation for helping us accomplish our goals. This funding will help us finish out our roundabouts over the next two planting seasons,” said Mayor Matt Nicholson, City of Seymour. “I also would like to recognize our local student, Elizabeth Kirby, who originally brought the Yellow Tulip Project to us. This young lady, who’s graduating from Seymour High School this spring really got this initiative started.”

During a recent grant check presentation ceremony, Dan Davis, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Jackson County added, “We’re pleased to be able to help facilitate this gift. Having partnerships like these, working together, really support moving our communities forward in a positive direction.”

The American Water Charitable Foundation State Strategic Impact grant is part of the 2025 Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, focusing on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities. State Strategic Impact grants support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s communities.

“Through the American Water Charitable Foundation, we are pleased to partner with organizations that align with Indiana American Water and support mental health awareness and community beautification in Seymour at the same time,” said Joel Reuter, External Affairs Manager at Indiana American Water.

Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation.