Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Syracuse water systems soon may be upgraded.
A preliminary engineering report for the project was presented to the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday at a special meeting at Syracuse Town Hall.
Jay H. Niec and Waldo A. Margheim, of Greeley and Hansen, LLC, along with Thomas Miller, the area manager of operating services for Severn Trent Services, presented the report. The plan includes the construction of a new water treatment facility, a new 500,000-gallon elevated storage tank and two new production wells.
The cost of the project is estimated at $5.165 million. At the May 20 council meeting, a plan was presented with an estimated cost of $6.248 million. Niec, Margheim and Miller have since worked to cut costs for the project. "Work between us has been really good," Miller said. "There's been a lot of give and take. We did scale back some of the things."
Syracuse currently has $175,000 to be used to build the new elevated water storage tank. They also have approximately $500,000 in Economic Development Income Tax funds available for the project. How much of those funds will be used has yet to be determined. The remaining costs would be financed.
The report also listed suggestions for financing for the project. The list included sources such as the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, a $25,000 planning grant from the Supplemental Drinking Water and Waste Water Assistance Funds and the town's Water Depreciation Fund. Niec said he plans to find out whether the project qualifies for a federal Department of Commerce grant. The report states that sewer rates and property taxes will not be affected by the project.
The objectives of the project stated in the report include the provision of an expandable water treatment facility to be used for more than 20 years, the replacement of aging equipment, the reduction of maintenance costs and the provision of reliable and adequate water volume and pressure.
Increased fire safety was discussed as a major benefit of the project. The new elevated storage tank would meet the requirements for use in fighting an extensive fire such as might take place at an industrial complex. The current tower holds only 250,000 gallons, half the capacity needed for extended fire situations.
Environmental considerations also were discussed. The report acknowledges that the project may have short-term negative effects on the environment as a result of construction, but states that long-term effects are expected to be minimal and that mitigation measures will be followed. Among the list of environmental considerations listed in the report are protection of air quality, sole source aquifer, wetlands, and endangered plant and animal habitats.
According to the schedule proposed in the report, construction on the project would begin in October 2004 and be completed by August 2005. The new system would be initiated in October 2005.
A public hearing on the Water Treatment and Storage Facilities Preliminary Engineering Report is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the town council meeting room. Questions and comments can be mailed to: Greeley and Hansen, LLC, Attention: Waldo Margheim, 105 E. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 500, South Bend, IN 46601; or hand delivered to Town of Syracuse, Attention: Clint Houseworth, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse.
All questions and comments must be received by July 9.
