Webster Picks Engineer for Knapp Lake Sewer Agreement
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
NORTH WEBSTER – Town council chose Triad Associates Inc. Tuesday as engineer to oversee their half of the Knapp Lake Regional Sewer District agreement. Triad, based in Indianapolis, submitted the lowest of three quotes at $2,800. Council voted to contract with the company after receiving assurance from representative Rick Pharis that the price covers all the work needed, such as identifying any changes North Webster may need to make in order to receive and process waste from the Knapp Lake district. The sewer district has agreed to help cover any costs in preparing North Webster’s system, council heard, and the agreement is not expected to have any effect on the town’s utility rate structure. Council and Utilities Superintendent Mike Noe expressed surprise that two other quotes were much higher – $7,500 from Wessler Engineering and $15,270 from Donahue and Associates Inc. Noe said it would be hard to make a decision that night because the quotes were “all over the board,” but remarked that the lowest quote gives more room if there are any unforeseen expenses. Pharis also told council Triad can become involved in related projects such as North Webster’s utility rate study and the overhaul of its lift station system. Noe estimated the cost to replace a dozen stations, some of which are 40 years old, at $600,000. The town also hopes to develop a long-term plan for its water utilities. Also Tuesday, council approved the purchase of a new police cruiser, a 2014 Ford Police Interceptor from Kerlin Motors, at a cost of $22,694 after the trade-in of a 2006 North Webster Police Department cruiser. And they agreed to have an ordinance drafted prohibiting the sale of synthetic drugs in town at the request of Police Chief Greg Church. He noted Syracuse has passed a similar law, and said it would be a backup plan due to the changing landscape of state laws on synthetic drugs.
