Emergency Status Speeds S. Lake Filter Replacement

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By MATTHEW WEIGE, Times-Union Staff Writer-

SILVER LAKE -ÊSilver Lake Town Council voted Thursday to declare the town's leaking water filter system an emergency situation.

Declaring the filter replacement an emergency allows the council to forego the bidding and advertising process.

Emergency status permits the council to siphon money from the water operation fund and the depreciation fund, said clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell.

Donald Morrison, senior environmental engineer for Ecologistics Limited, West Lafayette, examined Silver Lake's iron removal unit and presented his findings to the town council at the November council meeting. Morrison recommended the 34-year-old filter be replaced.

"I couldn't recommend repairing the tank. I think it's throwing good money to bad - well, I think you've got to replace it," said Morrison.

Ecologistics Limited offered a $180,000 bid for a 450-gallon-per-minute iron removal unit tank and its installation. At the council's request, Morrison offered a bid from another company for $170,000.

The council announced in December that it could not afford the 450-gallon tank and decided on the 300-gallon tank.

The tank's cost would "practically wipe us out of money," said Howell at the previous meeting.

Council president Brenda Wadkins said the 300-gallon-per-minute unit would meet Silver Lake's needs. "And would be quite a bit cheaper," said Wadkins.

Morrison is working on the engineering work for the filter replacement, although no contracts for replacement are signed, said Howell.

In other business, town marshal Craig Hollopeter told the council he had "someone picked out" to fill Silver Lake's deputy marshal position.

Reserve officer Jason McGlennen passed the polygraph test and "various things, and I feel he would be a good choice," said Hollopeter.

McGlennen has been a reserve office in Silver Lake for two years. Reserve officers are not paid. McGlennen will have to attend police academy within his first year as deputy marshal.

The full-time position was left vacant after Kurt Owens was fired for insubordination. Hollopeter announced the action at the November council meeting.

Owens was later indicted by a Kosciusko County grand jury for theft. The indictment was unrelated to the firing.

The next Silver Lake town council meeting is Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

The Silver Lake Town Council members are: president Brenda Wadkins, Gale Owens, Donna McCune and clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell. Phil Shally is town superintendent. Donna McCune was absent from the meeting. [[In-content Ad]]

SILVER LAKE -ÊSilver Lake Town Council voted Thursday to declare the town's leaking water filter system an emergency situation.

Declaring the filter replacement an emergency allows the council to forego the bidding and advertising process.

Emergency status permits the council to siphon money from the water operation fund and the depreciation fund, said clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell.

Donald Morrison, senior environmental engineer for Ecologistics Limited, West Lafayette, examined Silver Lake's iron removal unit and presented his findings to the town council at the November council meeting. Morrison recommended the 34-year-old filter be replaced.

"I couldn't recommend repairing the tank. I think it's throwing good money to bad - well, I think you've got to replace it," said Morrison.

Ecologistics Limited offered a $180,000 bid for a 450-gallon-per-minute iron removal unit tank and its installation. At the council's request, Morrison offered a bid from another company for $170,000.

The council announced in December that it could not afford the 450-gallon tank and decided on the 300-gallon tank.

The tank's cost would "practically wipe us out of money," said Howell at the previous meeting.

Council president Brenda Wadkins said the 300-gallon-per-minute unit would meet Silver Lake's needs. "And would be quite a bit cheaper," said Wadkins.

Morrison is working on the engineering work for the filter replacement, although no contracts for replacement are signed, said Howell.

In other business, town marshal Craig Hollopeter told the council he had "someone picked out" to fill Silver Lake's deputy marshal position.

Reserve officer Jason McGlennen passed the polygraph test and "various things, and I feel he would be a good choice," said Hollopeter.

McGlennen has been a reserve office in Silver Lake for two years. Reserve officers are not paid. McGlennen will have to attend police academy within his first year as deputy marshal.

The full-time position was left vacant after Kurt Owens was fired for insubordination. Hollopeter announced the action at the November council meeting.

Owens was later indicted by a Kosciusko County grand jury for theft. The indictment was unrelated to the firing.

The next Silver Lake town council meeting is Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

The Silver Lake Town Council members are: president Brenda Wadkins, Gale Owens, Donna McCune and clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell. Phil Shally is town superintendent. Donna McCune was absent from the meeting. [[In-content Ad]]

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