Sewage Increase Likely In Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw's residential sewage rates will probably reach $24.50, up from $14.50, within the next two years.
The increase will boost revenues to cover bond issues of $12.5 million for a new treatment plant and $3.6 million for a collection system, a total project cost of $16.1 million.
City council members heard from CPA Todd Samuelson of H.R. Umbaugh Thursday who outlined schedules of financial information for the proposed second wastewater treatment plant.
Sewage revenues are derived mostly from residential clients.
Also making a presentation was Franz Morsches of Jones and Henry who presented sketches of the second plant, showing its location as well as lift station placement.
The council heard the new plant would have the same capacity, 3.9 million gallons a day, as the current facility.
Morsches said portions of the Boggs Industrial Park plant are more than 50 years old. Waste is aerated for six hours, effluent is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria and then again with sulfur dioxide to remove the chlorine.
The new plant would aerate for 17 hours, use ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria, and put the waste through a dewatering process before the sludge is land applied.
The new plant could be expanded to process $12 million gallons per day.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said it is anticipated that the sewage plant be regional, serving Winona Lake and, perhaps, Leesburg.
Initially, the plant will take in 1.8 million gallons per day while the "old" plant handles 1.5 million gallons.
Morsches said Jones and Henry engineering costs will be around $840,000 for the designing phase, a contract the city has already entered into.
Morsches recommended a full-time engineer oversee the engineering and construction management phase of the project for approximately $1.1 million.
Since Jones and Henry will be designing the plant and presenting the specifications their employees are the natural choice to oversee the project, Wiggins said.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is reviewing plans for the second facility now and bids are expected to be let around the first of November. The facility should be operational in the fall of 2002.
Sewage facility revenues are applied toward a number of items. In addition to treatment plant operational expenses, city employee benefits, elected official and administrative salaries, various insurance policies, some capital improvement projects and debt service are also funded by the revenues.
Samuelson maintained that revenues are meeting costs and debt payments now, and "that's about it."
"We would recommend a $2 to $3 rate increase regardless of your planning a new treatment plant," he said.
Rates have not been raised since 1989.
Umbaugh's recommendations, revenue schedules and plans for the new facility are available for public review at city hall.
City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charles Smith, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw's residential sewage rates will probably reach $24.50, up from $14.50, within the next two years.
The increase will boost revenues to cover bond issues of $12.5 million for a new treatment plant and $3.6 million for a collection system, a total project cost of $16.1 million.
City council members heard from CPA Todd Samuelson of H.R. Umbaugh Thursday who outlined schedules of financial information for the proposed second wastewater treatment plant.
Sewage revenues are derived mostly from residential clients.
Also making a presentation was Franz Morsches of Jones and Henry who presented sketches of the second plant, showing its location as well as lift station placement.
The council heard the new plant would have the same capacity, 3.9 million gallons a day, as the current facility.
Morsches said portions of the Boggs Industrial Park plant are more than 50 years old. Waste is aerated for six hours, effluent is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria and then again with sulfur dioxide to remove the chlorine.
The new plant would aerate for 17 hours, use ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria, and put the waste through a dewatering process before the sludge is land applied.
The new plant could be expanded to process $12 million gallons per day.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said it is anticipated that the sewage plant be regional, serving Winona Lake and, perhaps, Leesburg.
Initially, the plant will take in 1.8 million gallons per day while the "old" plant handles 1.5 million gallons.
Morsches said Jones and Henry engineering costs will be around $840,000 for the designing phase, a contract the city has already entered into.
Morsches recommended a full-time engineer oversee the engineering and construction management phase of the project for approximately $1.1 million.
Since Jones and Henry will be designing the plant and presenting the specifications their employees are the natural choice to oversee the project, Wiggins said.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is reviewing plans for the second facility now and bids are expected to be let around the first of November. The facility should be operational in the fall of 2002.
Sewage facility revenues are applied toward a number of items. In addition to treatment plant operational expenses, city employee benefits, elected official and administrative salaries, various insurance policies, some capital improvement projects and debt service are also funded by the revenues.
Samuelson maintained that revenues are meeting costs and debt payments now, and "that's about it."
"We would recommend a $2 to $3 rate increase regardless of your planning a new treatment plant," he said.
Rates have not been raised since 1989.
Umbaugh's recommendations, revenue schedules and plans for the new facility are available for public review at city hall.
City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charles Smith, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]