Winona OKs Wastewater Lift Station Replacement, Tables Wastewater Fee Bill Waiver
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Ken Jones, Jones Petrie Rafinski, attended the meeting and said the cost estimate to fix the existing lift station is $861,000. The cost to build a new lift station is $898,000.
Jones recommended the town replace the existing lift station that is 40 to 50 years old. The current lift station is at the public works building and the new lift station would be located there as well.
Jones said the next step is a design phase, a public bidding process and construction that would take approximately 120 days.
The council approved a project coordination agreement with Indiana Department of Transportation for the Greenway for bike and pedestrian facilities to be constructed from Park Avenue to Grace College. Construction is expected to begin in July, according to Craig Allebach, town coordinator.
In other business, the council, after discussion, tabled a request by a property owner who owns an apartment complex on King’s Highway,
The complex has 12 units that are all currently vacant and the owner only wants to be charged a wastewater bill for one of the 12 apartment units. The apartment complex is across from Lake City Bank in Winona Lake. The apartment owner is looking to sell the complex.
Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, said he will visit the property and determine which sewer lines are hooked up before the council makes a decision on the wastewater bill waiver request.
Phillip Hood, councilman, voted against tabling the request for the apartment owner to be allowed to pay for only one of the unit’s sewage fees. Hood said he supported the apartment owner’s request to only be charged for one of the apartment units.
Terry Howie, councilman, made the motion to table the wastewater waiver request, seconded by Greg Winn, councilman.
Howie said he felt it would set a precedent allowing the property owner to only be required to pay wastewater fees for one unit, and waiving the other 11 unit fees.
He said there are residents who live on the island who are away for parts of the year and don’t use wastewater services, but are still required to pay a wastewater bill each month.
Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, said he disagreed with Howie and that it is different to charge wastewater fees for multiple vacant rental units compared to a single residence that is occupied.
Adams said he did not have a problem with waiving the wastewater fee for the 11 apartment units, and said the complex’s owner is current on payments for wastewater bills when the units were occupied.
Howie said he felt the council needed more information on why the property owner wanted to pay the wastewater bill for just one of the units when the complex is being sold.[[In-content Ad]]
Ken Jones, Jones Petrie Rafinski, attended the meeting and said the cost estimate to fix the existing lift station is $861,000. The cost to build a new lift station is $898,000.
Jones recommended the town replace the existing lift station that is 40 to 50 years old. The current lift station is at the public works building and the new lift station would be located there as well.
Jones said the next step is a design phase, a public bidding process and construction that would take approximately 120 days.
The council approved a project coordination agreement with Indiana Department of Transportation for the Greenway for bike and pedestrian facilities to be constructed from Park Avenue to Grace College. Construction is expected to begin in July, according to Craig Allebach, town coordinator.
In other business, the council, after discussion, tabled a request by a property owner who owns an apartment complex on King’s Highway,
The complex has 12 units that are all currently vacant and the owner only wants to be charged a wastewater bill for one of the 12 apartment units. The apartment complex is across from Lake City Bank in Winona Lake. The apartment owner is looking to sell the complex.
Pete O’Connell, street superintendent, said he will visit the property and determine which sewer lines are hooked up before the council makes a decision on the wastewater bill waiver request.
Phillip Hood, councilman, voted against tabling the request for the apartment owner to be allowed to pay for only one of the unit’s sewage fees. Hood said he supported the apartment owner’s request to only be charged for one of the apartment units.
Terry Howie, councilman, made the motion to table the wastewater waiver request, seconded by Greg Winn, councilman.
Howie said he felt it would set a precedent allowing the property owner to only be required to pay wastewater fees for one unit, and waiving the other 11 unit fees.
He said there are residents who live on the island who are away for parts of the year and don’t use wastewater services, but are still required to pay a wastewater bill each month.
Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, said he disagreed with Howie and that it is different to charge wastewater fees for multiple vacant rental units compared to a single residence that is occupied.
Adams said he did not have a problem with waiving the wastewater fee for the 11 apartment units, and said the complex’s owner is current on payments for wastewater bills when the units were occupied.
Howie said he felt the council needed more information on why the property owner wanted to pay the wastewater bill for just one of the units when the complex is being sold.[[In-content Ad]]
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