Webster Studies Storm Drain Upgrades
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - For a little under $10,000, town storm drains can be fitted with filters to prevent sediment and/or chemicals from entering Webster Lake.
A good maintenance program would help the situation, too, according to JF New & Associates representative Cornelia Sawatzky.
Sawatzky presented the results of a feasibility study to the town council and citizens Wednesday. The study was sponsored by the Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation and paid for with a Lake and River Enhancement Grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
On the east side of Ind. 13, 18 drain networks to the lake were identified within the town's boundaries. Almost all of the storm drains were completely full of contaminants - sand, dirt, yard clippings, trash, etc.
Drain systems on the west side are directed toward Kuhn Ditch.
Sawatzky said the drop structures - the cement casing below the street level grid - cannot be more than 60 percent full to be effective.
A drain maintenance schedule will go a long way toward keeping contaminants out of the lake. Installation of specialized filters was recommended.
Some of the filters are designed to capture oil and gas. Others could filter sand and salt from Ind. 13 and other streets. Another type would keep phosphorus, which promotes algae and weed growth, from entering the lake.
Four filtering cost scenarios were provided, with drains prioritized from high to low priority. The filters cost $82 each.
Filtering the high priority drains would cost $5,084; medium - $4,100; and low - $656, and all for $9,840.
The recent survey identified just the town drain network. There are other drain systems feeding into the lake.
Lynn Stevens, executive director of TELWF, said the most recent survey was "just a small piece of the pie."
The board did not comment on the engineer's recommendations.
Dennis Reafsnyder, Severn Trent's public works superintendent, said the Indiana Department of Transportation has been contacted about maintaining drains along Ind. 13.
Board members Kay Andrews and Jeff Morgan accepted the resignation of Tim Quigley from the library board with regret. Quigley, a long-time board member, is moving to Fort Wayne.
Lisa Miller was named by the board to finish Quigley's term, a little more than three years. Miller was welcomed to the board and advised Quigley was also a member and great supporter of the Friends of the Library, so she has big shoes to fill.
In other business, the board:
• Appointed Andrews to the Kosciusko Development Inc. board of directors.
• Agreed to write a letter of support for local businessman Al Williams, who is planning to move the Town Video store to Main Street. He is asking for setback variances from the county board of zoning appeals.
Williams said he plans to have a fast food franchise in the building, too.
• Approved expenditures of $4,515 for required equipment and chemicals for the wastewater treatment plant.
• Heard from Tim Wurtzel the annual Boy Scout turkey shoot will be Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Heard from town marshal Greg Church that the Kiwanis Safety Fest went well with many children fingerprinted.
Church also said thefts from boats have increased. He advised residents not to leave anything of value in their watercraft.
• Terry Pawlicki, park director, said the summer has gone very well and the park board is just waiting to receive the pier grant from IDNR.
A fence has kept out the geese, and e. coli counts are near zero.
• Were invited to a Soil and Water Conservation District dinner and tour in Noble County Sept. 6 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., by Stevens.
• Set a budget hearing for Sept. 6 at noon with adoption at the next meeting Sept. 18.
• Heard the community center board is asking for North Webster High School year books and/or old photographs. Items can be dropped off at town hall or Link Accounting.
Board member Ken Wagoner was absent. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - For a little under $10,000, town storm drains can be fitted with filters to prevent sediment and/or chemicals from entering Webster Lake.
A good maintenance program would help the situation, too, according to JF New & Associates representative Cornelia Sawatzky.
Sawatzky presented the results of a feasibility study to the town council and citizens Wednesday. The study was sponsored by the Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation and paid for with a Lake and River Enhancement Grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
On the east side of Ind. 13, 18 drain networks to the lake were identified within the town's boundaries. Almost all of the storm drains were completely full of contaminants - sand, dirt, yard clippings, trash, etc.
Drain systems on the west side are directed toward Kuhn Ditch.
Sawatzky said the drop structures - the cement casing below the street level grid - cannot be more than 60 percent full to be effective.
A drain maintenance schedule will go a long way toward keeping contaminants out of the lake. Installation of specialized filters was recommended.
Some of the filters are designed to capture oil and gas. Others could filter sand and salt from Ind. 13 and other streets. Another type would keep phosphorus, which promotes algae and weed growth, from entering the lake.
Four filtering cost scenarios were provided, with drains prioritized from high to low priority. The filters cost $82 each.
Filtering the high priority drains would cost $5,084; medium - $4,100; and low - $656, and all for $9,840.
The recent survey identified just the town drain network. There are other drain systems feeding into the lake.
Lynn Stevens, executive director of TELWF, said the most recent survey was "just a small piece of the pie."
The board did not comment on the engineer's recommendations.
Dennis Reafsnyder, Severn Trent's public works superintendent, said the Indiana Department of Transportation has been contacted about maintaining drains along Ind. 13.
Board members Kay Andrews and Jeff Morgan accepted the resignation of Tim Quigley from the library board with regret. Quigley, a long-time board member, is moving to Fort Wayne.
Lisa Miller was named by the board to finish Quigley's term, a little more than three years. Miller was welcomed to the board and advised Quigley was also a member and great supporter of the Friends of the Library, so she has big shoes to fill.
In other business, the board:
• Appointed Andrews to the Kosciusko Development Inc. board of directors.
• Agreed to write a letter of support for local businessman Al Williams, who is planning to move the Town Video store to Main Street. He is asking for setback variances from the county board of zoning appeals.
Williams said he plans to have a fast food franchise in the building, too.
• Approved expenditures of $4,515 for required equipment and chemicals for the wastewater treatment plant.
• Heard from Tim Wurtzel the annual Boy Scout turkey shoot will be Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Heard from town marshal Greg Church that the Kiwanis Safety Fest went well with many children fingerprinted.
Church also said thefts from boats have increased. He advised residents not to leave anything of value in their watercraft.
• Terry Pawlicki, park director, said the summer has gone very well and the park board is just waiting to receive the pier grant from IDNR.
A fence has kept out the geese, and e. coli counts are near zero.
• Were invited to a Soil and Water Conservation District dinner and tour in Noble County Sept. 6 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., by Stevens.
• Set a budget hearing for Sept. 6 at noon with adoption at the next meeting Sept. 18.
• Heard the community center board is asking for North Webster High School year books and/or old photographs. Items can be dropped off at town hall or Link Accounting.
Board member Ken Wagoner was absent. [[In-content Ad]]