Robert Tenney Joins Pierceton Town Council

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

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

PIERCETON - Robert Tenney was welcomed to the town council Monday following a public meeting regarding a Department of Commerce grant to update the wastewater treatment plant.

Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates, Larwill, said a preliminary proposal is due to the DOC Jan. 23. Upgrades and improvements, totaling more than $1 million, have been mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Public works supervisor Chip Hill said the facility is under capacity during heavy rain and the sewage is taken directly to Deeds Creek.

"IDEM has zero tolerance regarding bypassing," Hill said.

Board president Jerry Kreger said upgrades and improvements have been engineered, and without grants, customers in Pierceton, the Regency Point Trailer Court and Larwill will see a 99.9 percent increase in rates.

The DOC application will include a request for $500,000 and will be matched or exceeded with tax increment financing funds.

Murphy said 100 people ought to attend the next public meeting in March. He added that it is hard to get people enthused about something they can't see, like wastewater treatment, but the area will certainly qualify for a grant due to the number of low-income residents.

Fire chief Gordon Baker made several requests during the meeting that were approved. Items approved included the installation of a commercial-grade washing machine on the second story of the fire station; replacement of five pagers, at a cost of $350 each, instead of refurbishing old ones; and purchasing two sets of turnout gear.

Baker said fire department members have been asked to prioritize purchase for the next three to five years. He asked that the town and Washington Township representatives meet to discuss the list.

He said there are plenty of free smoke detectors available.

Town marshal Tim Sammons advised the board he has kept a record of service calls since July 21, showing the department responded to 1,604 calls since then.

Officer Jim Bumbaugh will attend the police academy Jan. 19 and Sammons, Terry Cahill and reserve officers will be on duty.

Sammons advised the council that more than 100 Project ChildSafe kits are available at the police department at no charge to the public.

The firearm safety kits include a gun lock.

"We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm," Sammons said. "Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gun lock." The lock fits on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Terry Hill and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]

PIERCETON - Robert Tenney was welcomed to the town council Monday following a public meeting regarding a Department of Commerce grant to update the wastewater treatment plant.

Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates, Larwill, said a preliminary proposal is due to the DOC Jan. 23. Upgrades and improvements, totaling more than $1 million, have been mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Public works supervisor Chip Hill said the facility is under capacity during heavy rain and the sewage is taken directly to Deeds Creek.

"IDEM has zero tolerance regarding bypassing," Hill said.

Board president Jerry Kreger said upgrades and improvements have been engineered, and without grants, customers in Pierceton, the Regency Point Trailer Court and Larwill will see a 99.9 percent increase in rates.

The DOC application will include a request for $500,000 and will be matched or exceeded with tax increment financing funds.

Murphy said 100 people ought to attend the next public meeting in March. He added that it is hard to get people enthused about something they can't see, like wastewater treatment, but the area will certainly qualify for a grant due to the number of low-income residents.

Fire chief Gordon Baker made several requests during the meeting that were approved. Items approved included the installation of a commercial-grade washing machine on the second story of the fire station; replacement of five pagers, at a cost of $350 each, instead of refurbishing old ones; and purchasing two sets of turnout gear.

Baker said fire department members have been asked to prioritize purchase for the next three to five years. He asked that the town and Washington Township representatives meet to discuss the list.

He said there are plenty of free smoke detectors available.

Town marshal Tim Sammons advised the board he has kept a record of service calls since July 21, showing the department responded to 1,604 calls since then.

Officer Jim Bumbaugh will attend the police academy Jan. 19 and Sammons, Terry Cahill and reserve officers will be on duty.

Sammons advised the council that more than 100 Project ChildSafe kits are available at the police department at no charge to the public.

The firearm safety kits include a gun lock.

"We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm," Sammons said. "Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gun lock." The lock fits on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Terry Hill and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]

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