Silver Lake Assessing Utility Rates
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
Tuesday night at the regular town council meeting, John Julian, a representative from Umbaugh & Associates, spoke to the council about evaluating the town's utility rates and capital planning. Town clerk Angie Glass said she asked Julian to attend the meeting and explain the process so council members and town residents know what the company does.[[In-content Ad]]The reason Glass is suggesting the town seek the services of Umbaugh & Associates is to see why the water plant is outspending its revenues. She said the town would like to know if this is a temporary situation or if a rate increase is necessary. If possible, the town does not want to raise the rates.
The Umbaugh study, if approved, would cost about $5,500. It would include the evaluation of sewer and water rates as well as capital planning for the town.
The study takes approximately 60 to 90 days to complete. The firm looks at financial records for the past three years, the town's operating pattern and changes expected in upcoming years. Once the information is obtained, the firm helps the town develop a capital budget.
"Even if there is no rate adjustment necessary, this would be a helpful planning tool for the future," Julian said.
The council said they would look over the information and make a decision about whether to have the study at a later date.
The council also heard that the town needs to purchase an influent flow meter for the sewer and water system. The meter measures waste going into the town's treatment ponds.
The old meter was damaged and removed before Jasun Blocher took over as town/wastewater superintendent. When the Indiana Department of Environmental Management visited the town, Blocher learned that the influent flow has not been figured correctly and that the meter is a requirement. The meter will cost approximately $4,100, however, the board did not vote on the purchase Tuesday.
Also, the town needs to purchase lab supplies to do testing at both the water and sewer plants. For the water plant, the chemicals necessary for testing have expired. For the sewer plant, there is equipment that needs to be purchased.
Currently, the town is sending its sewer samples to an outside lab for testing. The problem is that the lab has not been returning the results in a timely manner.
Blocher also said he will re-do the hydrant flushing the first week of September. Some areas in town are seeing a lot of rust in the water, and Blocher believes that all the hydrants were not flushed earlier this year. Flyers will be sent out to residents to let them know when the hydrant flushing will occur.
Board members thanked Blocher for his hard work and said they felt the town's sewer and water systems are getting back on track. They also said that problems have accumulated in the water and sewer plants over the past several years, and the unnecessary equipment was purchased because the council was told it was needed.
In other business, the council:
n Heard the Day of Caring is Aug. 27. Four houses in Silver Lake will receive help from volunteers from Grace College, Warsaw businesses and the town. Anyone is welcome to volunteer. Those interested should contact Craig Hollopeter at 260-352-3333.
n Learned the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Tour will visit Silver Lake Aug. 27. Forty classic cars will descend on Silver Lake from 9 to 11 a.m. Half the cars will be at Splendor Boat Co. on Ind. 15, and the other half will be parked downtown in front of Whetstone Woodenware. The cars will switch locations after an hour, splitting time between the two places.
n Heard that the first meeting for the town's sesquicentennial celebration was held at the town hall. The committee has proposed to extend Silver Lake Days from two days to four for the celebration. The next sesquicentennial meeting will be Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
n Heard the the Silver Lake Police Department secured $23,475 in grants from four sources over the past year. The department also is looking into grants totaling $5,000-$6,000 next year.
n Heard that Sonfest Community Day will be Aug. 23 at Gospel Hill Pentecostal Church on Ind. 15. The free event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. and includes lunch, gospel music, an inflatable obstacle course, a traveling circus, ice cream, pony rides, cotton candy, snow cones, giveaways and more. Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon.
Silver Lake Town Council members are Gale Owens, president; Ronald Jones and Linda Baker.
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Tuesday night at the regular town council meeting, John Julian, a representative from Umbaugh & Associates, spoke to the council about evaluating the town's utility rates and capital planning. Town clerk Angie Glass said she asked Julian to attend the meeting and explain the process so council members and town residents know what the company does.[[In-content Ad]]The reason Glass is suggesting the town seek the services of Umbaugh & Associates is to see why the water plant is outspending its revenues. She said the town would like to know if this is a temporary situation or if a rate increase is necessary. If possible, the town does not want to raise the rates.
The Umbaugh study, if approved, would cost about $5,500. It would include the evaluation of sewer and water rates as well as capital planning for the town.
The study takes approximately 60 to 90 days to complete. The firm looks at financial records for the past three years, the town's operating pattern and changes expected in upcoming years. Once the information is obtained, the firm helps the town develop a capital budget.
"Even if there is no rate adjustment necessary, this would be a helpful planning tool for the future," Julian said.
The council said they would look over the information and make a decision about whether to have the study at a later date.
The council also heard that the town needs to purchase an influent flow meter for the sewer and water system. The meter measures waste going into the town's treatment ponds.
The old meter was damaged and removed before Jasun Blocher took over as town/wastewater superintendent. When the Indiana Department of Environmental Management visited the town, Blocher learned that the influent flow has not been figured correctly and that the meter is a requirement. The meter will cost approximately $4,100, however, the board did not vote on the purchase Tuesday.
Also, the town needs to purchase lab supplies to do testing at both the water and sewer plants. For the water plant, the chemicals necessary for testing have expired. For the sewer plant, there is equipment that needs to be purchased.
Currently, the town is sending its sewer samples to an outside lab for testing. The problem is that the lab has not been returning the results in a timely manner.
Blocher also said he will re-do the hydrant flushing the first week of September. Some areas in town are seeing a lot of rust in the water, and Blocher believes that all the hydrants were not flushed earlier this year. Flyers will be sent out to residents to let them know when the hydrant flushing will occur.
Board members thanked Blocher for his hard work and said they felt the town's sewer and water systems are getting back on track. They also said that problems have accumulated in the water and sewer plants over the past several years, and the unnecessary equipment was purchased because the council was told it was needed.
In other business, the council:
n Heard the Day of Caring is Aug. 27. Four houses in Silver Lake will receive help from volunteers from Grace College, Warsaw businesses and the town. Anyone is welcome to volunteer. Those interested should contact Craig Hollopeter at 260-352-3333.
n Learned the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Tour will visit Silver Lake Aug. 27. Forty classic cars will descend on Silver Lake from 9 to 11 a.m. Half the cars will be at Splendor Boat Co. on Ind. 15, and the other half will be parked downtown in front of Whetstone Woodenware. The cars will switch locations after an hour, splitting time between the two places.
n Heard that the first meeting for the town's sesquicentennial celebration was held at the town hall. The committee has proposed to extend Silver Lake Days from two days to four for the celebration. The next sesquicentennial meeting will be Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
n Heard the the Silver Lake Police Department secured $23,475 in grants from four sources over the past year. The department also is looking into grants totaling $5,000-$6,000 next year.
n Heard that Sonfest Community Day will be Aug. 23 at Gospel Hill Pentecostal Church on Ind. 15. The free event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. and includes lunch, gospel music, an inflatable obstacle course, a traveling circus, ice cream, pony rides, cotton candy, snow cones, giveaways and more. Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon.
Silver Lake Town Council members are Gale Owens, president; Ronald Jones and Linda Baker.
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