CLAYPOOL – Town council approved a nearly $30,000 downpayment to NIPSCO Monday for services at the wastewater treatment plant and an $18,000 payment to Beer and Slabaugh. The payment for electrical hookup was needed before NIPSCO would begin any work. The $29,812 payment plus a remainder of about $5,000 is the estimate for six years of usage. The release of an $18,000 partial payment to Beer and Slabaugh is also related to treatment plant upgrades, which were all required by the state. A total contract sum of nearly $125,000 was presented in December, with council deciding to pay $60,108 through financing from Crossroads Bank and the rest from town funds. Remaining work – and costs – at the plant include tree cutting, installation of chlorine lines and purchase of a generator. Resident Dave Morgan asked later in the meeting what the original estimated cost for the plant was. Council members said initial estimates weren’t solid figures, and council President Nikki Miller noted that the project is not over budget and that costs such as NIPSCO and the generator were not unexpected. Morgan suggested conducting a rate study, remarking that service rates could either go up or town. Town officials said rates would most likely go up. Miller said she would prefer to wait on a study until after the town receives a new permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental management spelling out what they must test and treat for, which is expected in 2016. Also Monday, council approved the standard operating procedure manual for the town police department. The nearly 100-page document was more than a year in the making, and council may look at crafting something similar for town employees.
