Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - The bids for construction costs to make mandatory improvements to the wastewater treatment plant came in at $600,000 more than anticipated.
Jim Lauer of Schnelker Engineering, Fort Wayne, presented from five companies with the $1,833,000 bid from R.E. Crosby, Fort Wayne, being the lowest quote. An additional $51,000 for an ultraviolet channel to "kill" bacteria also was the lowest bid.
Other bidders were Thieneman Construction, Crown Point, $1,869,000; Bowen Engineering Corp, Indianapolis, $1,989,200; Hageman Inc., Fort Wayne, $1,994,000; and Corporate Construction inc., Auburn, $2,160,000.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management had demanded improvements to the facility - holding tanks, new blowers, establishing holding ponds and updating equipment - to comply with the state's "zero bypassing" policy.
Storm water enters the sanitary sewer system at many points, causing overflow from the sewage plant when it rains.
Since a spring 2003 meeting, costs for the project, aimed at increasing the plant's treatment capacity from 550,000 gallons per day up to 1.25 million gallons and installing a screening system and redirecting the flow from Larwill, have risen from a little more than $800,000 to $1.8 million.
Steve Carter from J.J. Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth, said the council can consider two funding options to pay for the project using bonds, applying the Indiana Department of Commerce's grant of $500,000, dedicating tax increment financing and economic development income tax monies as well as revenue from the utility.
Depending upon the amount of the bond, TIF and EDIT levels, monthly rates for sewer service would increase from $5 to as much as $16.
The council tabled any decision regarding financing and tabled the bid award for two weeks. A Sept. 25 meeting was set to decide these issues.
Jerry Kreger and Terry Hill congratulated the Warsaw Housing Authority for a successful hog roast fund-raiser Saturday. Kreger said more than $4,000 was raised as matching money for the third round of owner-occupied housing rehabilitation funds.
"We can't budget $20,000, the matching funds every year," said Kreger, "And the Indiana Housing Finance Authority wants to see community involvement to award grants.
In the last two years 25 local homes have received improvements. There is a waiting list for the third program. The grants can be used for new furnaces, electrical systems and other major improvements to a house.
Terry Hill recognized the work of hog roasters Kim Leake, Mike McFarlin and Tim Goon. "They worked all night long preparing the food for this event. Pam Kennedy and her staff did a super job," Hill said.
The board also:
• Heard the fire department raised $3,800 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The fire department plans to flush hydrants Sept. 16.
• Approved installation of a ceiling fan in the senior center, as requested by Ray Werstler.
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Terry Hill and Bob Tenney. Tenney was absent.
