SILVER LAKE - Applause was given for a job well done to the engineering representatives, contractor and town superintendent Tuesday to mark the finalization of the water line project in town and around Silver Lake.

About 25 people attended Tuesday's meeting.

The work came in under bid, too, costing $56,607,23 less than originally estimated, according to change orders presented by Triad Engineering representative Tracey Trinpe.

The board approved payments of $74,471.41 for materials delivered and partial payment to All Star Construction of $184,863.38.

A certificate of substantial completion was presented to board members Mabel Enyeart, Wilbur Brake and Stanley Williams Oct. 5.

The nine-month project isn't quite finished, however, as Trinpe explained, until a sign at the corner of Amelia and Pleasant streets is replaced.

Then there is the matter of removing 17 water hydrants from abandoned water lines, which All Star Construction has not done, and, according to owner Ed Foss, has no intention of doing.

Trinpe said when the plans were submitted for the project, five hydrants were marked for removal. All Star removed these, according to the plans.

Contractual language indicates the specifications override the plans and the specs say the contractor is supposed to locate existing utilities - in this case, the hydrants subject to removal.

Foss called the specs ambiguous and said he referred to the plans to calculate his bid at the beginning of the project.

"I brought this up with another engineer who said he would not issue an addendum," Foss said.

Foss said the engineer chose not to clarify the plans and he prepared the bid on what he could see.

All-Star is asking a little more than $500 each to remove the 17 hydrants.

Trinpe countered Foss' remarks by saying the engineers do not have to clarify anything if they don't want to.

Town attorney Mike Reed's said the contractor was stuck and didn't deserve to be stuck with the additional work.

Williams made a motion to find another contractor to remove the hydrants, which was seconded by Enyeart and approved, with Brake casting a nay vote.

Barb Hudson, CR 250W, asked that a water meter on her property and the leak at the elevator be checked. She said there was still restoration work to be done on her property from the water project excavating.

Enyeart said it would be finished in the spring.

Barbara Morton, owner of Lakeview Liquors, 103 Main St., approached the board regarding a fire hydrant placed in the middle of an easement behind her establishment.

Morton said she approached the board June 1 and was told it would be moved by Silver Lake Days. She has used the easement in the past for delivery trucks.

Susie Landwerlen also has a business and a housing rental unit there and said the hydrant prevents access to her back door and parking for her renters.

Enyeart said the area is a public easement owned by the town.

Morton reminded the board they said the hydrant could and would be moved and she wanted to know why, four months later, it was not.

"We're representing two businesses. We're proud of our efforts," she said.

"I don't know why this is such a problem if it would help two businesses to move it 3 feet one way or another."

The board approved moving the hydrant but did not set a specific date.

The board heard from Indiana Department of Environmental Management representative Kyle Hendrix and APT Environmental Services representative Steve Sittler regarding possible funding, soil testing and underground tank removal of the former Marathon Station.

The board continued this item until all information was received from IDEM, because Hendrix said the information packet was not complete. [[In-content Ad]]