Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - David Fritzel of Winona Lake was hired Tuesday as the electric superintendent for Etna Green.
Fritzel replaces Randy Cloud, who was terminated in October for failing to fulfill his contractual obligations by completing a necessary training program.
Etna Green Town Council president Eileen Hall said several applicants were interviewed before it was decided to offer the job to Fritzel. He will begin his employment with the town on Feb. 26 and will receive a salary of $30,000 per year. Fritzel is a certified electrician and will be required to attend line school.
In other business, the council approved four of five change orders for the treatment plant facility as presented by Mark Sullivan of Commonwealth Engineering on behalf of HRP Construction, the company completing the town's wastewater project.
The changes approved include relocating pressure relief valves from the floor to the wall, providing access to and boxing in the air lifts, relocating the existing influent line and relocating the scum line on the existing clarifier tank. The council opted to ask for a breakdown of costs associated with cutting off a well casing head because members felt the $1,400 fee was exorbitant. The total cost of approved change orders is $5,182.82.
Sullivan said he received six other change orders that he did not recommend the town approve. One of those changes was a $10,000 additional fee for adjustments in the sludge pump station that were of HRP's making. Another is for a job completed in conjunction with a housing development that is under way and that cost will be forwarded to the developers there.
The council approved paying a claim from HRP for $121,177.25, which brings the total for payments made to $754,000 of the $807,000 contract. Sullivan said costs paid represent about 94 percent of the work.
A new work schedule shows that the contractor expects to have everything done - with the exception of grass seeding and similar warm-weather items - by the end of February.
"That's their guess this month," Sullivan said. "I've got three other schedules with three other months."
Sullivan reiterated previous statements regarding HRP's work - that the quality is superior, but the pace is slow.
Regarding a Feb. 28 completion date, Sullivan said, "I think they're optimistic there. I don't want to laugh ... but each month they move the schedule to the end of the next month."
He did say that he believes HRP will be at substantial completion if the company can perform as the schedule suggests. The town is already nearing $30,000 in liquidated damages assessed because of the company's failure to reach substantial completion on the original schedule.
"We really need to get to substantial completion," Sullivan said. "(Rural Development) is not willing to accept substantial completion till everything is complete."
In other business, the council:
• Approved a contract for mowing from Mike's Lawn Service for a cost of $3,600. The only other bid received was from Chris Stouder for $3,750.
• Amended the salary ordinance, increasing water superintendent Barry Baker's annual salary from $32,700 to $34,000.
• Learned the town's budget was approved by the State Board of Accounts, with a $2,000 reduction in the motor vehicle-highway fund. Additional appropriations will need to be made in the park budget because clerk-treasurer Laura Baker said $3,000 will not be enough to cover costs for the year.
The Etna Green Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the fire station meeting room. Members of the council are Eileen Hall, Ruben "R.B." Conley and Jeff Klinefelter.
