South Whitley Accepts $1.1 Million Sewer Line Bid
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - Bids were opened a second time Tuesday night on the sanitary sewer line installation project by the town council.
The Land Inc. bid was accepted for $1,109,195. Notice to proceed will be given immediately.
Funding for the project includes a $400,000 Build Indiana grant, which has been partially used to pay work done by Cole Engineers. About $260,000 remains in that account.
Council president Glee Eberly questioned Cole Engineering representative Mark Nye about a start date for the project, which will tear up State Street for pipe replacement.
John Julien, from Umbaugh and Associates, Certified Public Accountants LLP, Plymouth, said closing on the bond sales should be Sept. 21, notice to proceed could be given then and within two weeks - around Oct. 1 - the work could commence.
Nye did not respond.
"The first of October is too late," Eberly said. "That finishes the project at the end of December. I don't think there are any asphalt plants working then."
Julien said the start notice could be given immediately and interim financing could be secured, and Nye agreed.
Eberly expressed her concern again about the availability of asphalt in December. The project will tear up several streets in town and is expected to take 90 days.
The project has experienced several changes in scope. Initially, 1-1/2 years ago, the length of the old sewer pipe was to be sleeved and a storm drain system installed. Further study indicated portions of the sanitary sewer line should be completely replaced; then a complete survey was ordered, which was not in the original prospectus.
In January the board learned of yet another turn in the plan's routing.
A solid-pipe lining will be inserted into the old sanitary sewer line and a storm drain system will be installed, as originally planned, from north of the railroad tracks to Front Street. At Front Street the storm drain system turns to Columbia Street and then to the Eel River.
The street in front of businesses will still be torn up so lateral lines can be connected to the new sanitary sewer line. These access holes will be dug, the line will be connected and the hole filled before the next access is excavated.
Bid receipt and contract award was then scheduled in May, with construction to begin in June and end in September.
Bids were not advertised until June, however, and then they were advertised in Fort Wayne, not local, newspapers. Advertisement in the Fort Wayne newspapers was not improper, but the inclusion of a local newspaper is required by Indiana Code.
Cole Associates representatives said they were not aware of this requirement.
Legal notices were reissued with Land Inc. of LaOtto and All Star Construction of Roanoke responding.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has not yet indicated they will contribute to the project, although funding requests have been made. A portion of State Street is also Ind. 15.
The bonds will be paid with revenue. The council passed a sewer rate increase of 20.1 percent with increases to be noted on customers' Nov. 1 billings.
In other business the board:
• Discussed voluntary annexation of the Jeff Spear Development.
Town attorney Greg Hockemeyer said he hasn't heard anything definitive regarding a possible annexation and would like the board to make recommendations.
• Hockemeyer also proposed the board adopt an ordinance regarding a four-mile jurisdiction for public health and safety purposes, which was unanimously approved by Eberly, Tom Rudd and Tony Starkey.
Several complaints have been received regarding a lot containing junk vehicles just outside town limits and, with adoption of this ordinance, the town marshal, Dave McKeever, can act as health officer and cite the nuisance.
• Eberly asked that the owner of 104 N. Main St. be contacted because a roll of carpet has been left outdoors.
• Town clerk Mitch Winger said the town budget will be published this week and next week and a public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 10 with adoption on Sept. 20.
Winger also said Triax representatives have not responded to his calls.
• Winger said Amy Lybarger of the Soil and Water Conservation District is offering to help with the erosion problem along the Eel River that boarders the town park.
The clerk said he filed for re-election. To date Eberly, Starkey, Judy Earnhart and Randy Cokl have filed for board seats, too.
• McKeever asked if a new squad car was included in the budget and was given an affirmative answer. He said he would like to trade in the 1997 Ford which, by Jan. 1, the town will have had for 2-1/2 years. The 1993 Chevy model will be retained.
Starkey asked the police department to make a survey of vehicles parked in town to ensure all are properly licensed.
• A request by the Meyers family to use the town hall for a 50th family reunion was scheduled for June 18, 2000. [[In-content Ad]]
SOUTH WHITLEY - Bids were opened a second time Tuesday night on the sanitary sewer line installation project by the town council.
The Land Inc. bid was accepted for $1,109,195. Notice to proceed will be given immediately.
Funding for the project includes a $400,000 Build Indiana grant, which has been partially used to pay work done by Cole Engineers. About $260,000 remains in that account.
Council president Glee Eberly questioned Cole Engineering representative Mark Nye about a start date for the project, which will tear up State Street for pipe replacement.
John Julien, from Umbaugh and Associates, Certified Public Accountants LLP, Plymouth, said closing on the bond sales should be Sept. 21, notice to proceed could be given then and within two weeks - around Oct. 1 - the work could commence.
Nye did not respond.
"The first of October is too late," Eberly said. "That finishes the project at the end of December. I don't think there are any asphalt plants working then."
Julien said the start notice could be given immediately and interim financing could be secured, and Nye agreed.
Eberly expressed her concern again about the availability of asphalt in December. The project will tear up several streets in town and is expected to take 90 days.
The project has experienced several changes in scope. Initially, 1-1/2 years ago, the length of the old sewer pipe was to be sleeved and a storm drain system installed. Further study indicated portions of the sanitary sewer line should be completely replaced; then a complete survey was ordered, which was not in the original prospectus.
In January the board learned of yet another turn in the plan's routing.
A solid-pipe lining will be inserted into the old sanitary sewer line and a storm drain system will be installed, as originally planned, from north of the railroad tracks to Front Street. At Front Street the storm drain system turns to Columbia Street and then to the Eel River.
The street in front of businesses will still be torn up so lateral lines can be connected to the new sanitary sewer line. These access holes will be dug, the line will be connected and the hole filled before the next access is excavated.
Bid receipt and contract award was then scheduled in May, with construction to begin in June and end in September.
Bids were not advertised until June, however, and then they were advertised in Fort Wayne, not local, newspapers. Advertisement in the Fort Wayne newspapers was not improper, but the inclusion of a local newspaper is required by Indiana Code.
Cole Associates representatives said they were not aware of this requirement.
Legal notices were reissued with Land Inc. of LaOtto and All Star Construction of Roanoke responding.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has not yet indicated they will contribute to the project, although funding requests have been made. A portion of State Street is also Ind. 15.
The bonds will be paid with revenue. The council passed a sewer rate increase of 20.1 percent with increases to be noted on customers' Nov. 1 billings.
In other business the board:
• Discussed voluntary annexation of the Jeff Spear Development.
Town attorney Greg Hockemeyer said he hasn't heard anything definitive regarding a possible annexation and would like the board to make recommendations.
• Hockemeyer also proposed the board adopt an ordinance regarding a four-mile jurisdiction for public health and safety purposes, which was unanimously approved by Eberly, Tom Rudd and Tony Starkey.
Several complaints have been received regarding a lot containing junk vehicles just outside town limits and, with adoption of this ordinance, the town marshal, Dave McKeever, can act as health officer and cite the nuisance.
• Eberly asked that the owner of 104 N. Main St. be contacted because a roll of carpet has been left outdoors.
• Town clerk Mitch Winger said the town budget will be published this week and next week and a public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 10 with adoption on Sept. 20.
Winger also said Triax representatives have not responded to his calls.
• Winger said Amy Lybarger of the Soil and Water Conservation District is offering to help with the erosion problem along the Eel River that boarders the town park.
The clerk said he filed for re-election. To date Eberly, Starkey, Judy Earnhart and Randy Cokl have filed for board seats, too.
• McKeever asked if a new squad car was included in the budget and was given an affirmative answer. He said he would like to trade in the 1997 Ford which, by Jan. 1, the town will have had for 2-1/2 years. The 1993 Chevy model will be retained.
Starkey asked the police department to make a survey of vehicles parked in town to ensure all are properly licensed.
• A request by the Meyers family to use the town hall for a 50th family reunion was scheduled for June 18, 2000. [[In-content Ad]]