Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - New construction in town has officials scrambling to get a water line installed.
The Etna Green Town Council will seek bids for a line to be run to an East Pleasant Street home being built near a water line with an inadequate supply to serve it.
Currently, a house and trailer are being served off the 1-inch line, and adding another home would reduce the already low water pressure. Council members said there is a potential for more residential development in the area and the town would like to run a 6-inch line to serve water customers.
Rather than dig up the property from the water main to the residence and tap in on the small line, officials hope to get a larger line installed now and prevent digging it up later. Larger water lines are part of a townwide water project already under consideration.
The town completed a preliminary engineering master plan for its water system last year and, according to Vince Sommers of Commonwealth Engineering, just needs to set its priorities.
Sommers was at Tuesday's meeting to discuss updating the town's utilities, and the council voted to have his firm complete an engineering feasibility study of the town's wastewater treatment plant. The decision to go ahead with the study is contingent upon whether the town can fund it through its debt-service relief.
The cost of the study is not to exceed $5,000.
In other business, the council:
• Accepted the resignation of Denise Heckaman as deputy clerk-treasurer and approved Eileen Hall as her replacement.
• Tabled discussion of establishing a clothing allowance for Etna Green First Responders until next month.
• Agreed to run electric service to a residence on 12B Road. The property owner, Tom Heisler of Bourbon, will be responsible for trenching the line underground and maintenance of the line.
The next meeting is at 6 p.m. April 8 in the fire station.
