City Of Warsaw Preparing For Treatment Plant Expansion
August 18, 2018 at 2:56 a.m.
City Of Warsaw Preparing For Treatment Plant Expansion
By Dan [email protected]
The first part has involved replacing some storm sewer lines and manholes, but much of the estimated $11 million work has focused on relining many existing sewer lines.
The city’s Board of Works and Public Safety learned Friday that some of the work will continue into early 2019, as expected.
While many lines in the downtown area have been upgraded, more work on Main Street between North Detroit and Buffalo is expected to begin within weeks.
That crumbling stretch of pipe is nearly 100 years old and caused a partial collapse of the road last year near the fire station.
Replacement of the infrastructure might require the closure of the Main and Buffalo street intersection for a week or so.
At the same time, the city is preparing for an expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to cost nearly $30 million.
On Friday, the board approved a request to begin steps toward seeking bids for the project.
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The two-phase project is expected to be the biggest capital improvement project in the city’s history.
The project is viewed as an urgent necessity because the city’s current plant is on the verge of reaching capacity.
If the city begins to exceed capacity and did nothing to plan for expansion, the state could restrict future tap-ons to the system.
Both phases of work coincide with hikes in sewer bills to pay for the improvements.
One hike was approved late last year.
The Warsaw City Council is expected to introduce separate bond and rate ordinances in mid-September for the second phase and could vote on the issues within a month.
The combined rate hikes are expected to increase bills upward of 39 percent.
Mayor Joe Thallemer said previously that the two rate hikes combined would move monthly bills close to the state average of about $46.
In other matters, the board:
• Saw the swearing-in of three new firefighters. Tony Shilling, Lucas Ellsworth and Zachary Rumsyre recently completed a year as probationary firefighters and will complete their probationary period on Aug. 26.
• Heard an update on Family Safety Day, which is set for Sept. 8 along Canal Street along Central Park. Fire Chief Mike Wilson said they have more sponsorships this year and said they hope to top last year’s attendance, which was about 4,000. The event includes demonstrations on safety and lots of fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles.
• Approved a road closure to accommodate a fundraiser planned on Buffalo Street across from the Kosciusko County Courthouse on the night of Aug. 25. The fundraiser is for Unreined A, a new nonprofit that aims to rescue and rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking. The event will include live music, an art display and food from several restaurants.
The first part has involved replacing some storm sewer lines and manholes, but much of the estimated $11 million work has focused on relining many existing sewer lines.
The city’s Board of Works and Public Safety learned Friday that some of the work will continue into early 2019, as expected.
While many lines in the downtown area have been upgraded, more work on Main Street between North Detroit and Buffalo is expected to begin within weeks.
That crumbling stretch of pipe is nearly 100 years old and caused a partial collapse of the road last year near the fire station.
Replacement of the infrastructure might require the closure of the Main and Buffalo street intersection for a week or so.
At the same time, the city is preparing for an expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to cost nearly $30 million.
On Friday, the board approved a request to begin steps toward seeking bids for the project.
[[In-content Ad]]
The two-phase project is expected to be the biggest capital improvement project in the city’s history.
The project is viewed as an urgent necessity because the city’s current plant is on the verge of reaching capacity.
If the city begins to exceed capacity and did nothing to plan for expansion, the state could restrict future tap-ons to the system.
Both phases of work coincide with hikes in sewer bills to pay for the improvements.
One hike was approved late last year.
The Warsaw City Council is expected to introduce separate bond and rate ordinances in mid-September for the second phase and could vote on the issues within a month.
The combined rate hikes are expected to increase bills upward of 39 percent.
Mayor Joe Thallemer said previously that the two rate hikes combined would move monthly bills close to the state average of about $46.
In other matters, the board:
• Saw the swearing-in of three new firefighters. Tony Shilling, Lucas Ellsworth and Zachary Rumsyre recently completed a year as probationary firefighters and will complete their probationary period on Aug. 26.
• Heard an update on Family Safety Day, which is set for Sept. 8 along Canal Street along Central Park. Fire Chief Mike Wilson said they have more sponsorships this year and said they hope to top last year’s attendance, which was about 4,000. The event includes demonstrations on safety and lots of fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles.
• Approved a road closure to accommodate a fundraiser planned on Buffalo Street across from the Kosciusko County Courthouse on the night of Aug. 25. The fundraiser is for Unreined A, a new nonprofit that aims to rescue and rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking. The event will include live music, an art display and food from several restaurants.
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