Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Sidney has been working on getting their own sewer plant for the past five years.
But now they have only until mid-June to use their $350,000 in Indiana Department of Commerce Community Focus Fund money, and they are more than half a million dollars short for the project. If they don't use it, they lose it.
Tuesday, Kenneth Koontz, president of the Sidney Town council, requested the county commissioners provide the town with $100,000 from either Economic Development Income Tax monies or the Riverboat Gambling funds the county received. Half could be paid to the town this year, and half next year.
Koontz said the town's existing system is starting to go bad.
Funding the town currently has in place includes $760,537 from a USDA grant; $141,000 in a USDA loan, to be paid off in 40 years at 4.5 percent; the IDOC grant; and $106,243 in Sidney's own funds, for a total of $1,357,780. However, the total cost for the project per bids is $1,901,780, a difference of $544,000.
The town is requesting $150,000 in additional IDOC CFF grant monies and an additional $294,000 in USDA loan monies at the same interest rate.
The town has 78 users on its sewer system. With the funding currently in place, the users would have to pay approximately $81.14 per month. If the town receives additional IDOC grant money, that would be reduced by $9.58 and then reduced by an additional $6.39 if the county provides $100,000. The resulting rate would be $65.17 per month per user.
The figures were calculated by Schnelker Engineering Inc. Consulting Engineers, Fort Wayne.
Jim Lauer, with Schnelker, said the new sewer system would be enough for 100 users - just 22 more than is currently on the system. The town isn't building for the future but to handle the current users.
Truex said the commissioners will review the matter and get back to the town.
