Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Jaws dropped when the town council learned that auxiliary pumps in six of the town's eight lift stations were inoperable.
Severn Trent street and parks superintendent Pete O'Connell informed the board of the emergency situation Tuesday to usher in his second week on the job. The Severn Trent Co. was contracted Nov. 13 to oversee public works operations. O'Connell began employment Jan. 1.
O'Connell said he considers this an emergency situation. Each lift station has two pumps that work alternately.
Raw sewage will flow onto the ground if the remaining pump stops working, he said. With two lift stations near creeks feeding directly into a lake or pond, in the Stonehenge and Stone Camp residential subdivisions, the water pollution could be considerable.
O'Connell said the Underground Pipe and Valve Co., South Bend, picked up the three inoperable pumps stored in the garage and he should soon receive estimates for their repair. The first $10,000 in repairs will be paid by Severn Trent. He advised the board to install a computerized lift station alarm system.
Town marshal Malcolm Gilbert said he ordered all patrolmen to check each lift station twice during each shift for the last few months.
O'Connell also said no one would be taking home company vehicles effective Thursday, unless weather conditions warranted their use.
When prompted by councilman Jeff Carroll, O'Connell said he was born and raised in the Oswego - Leesburg area, working for the Warsaw street department in the 1960s and '70s. Most recently he was the Woodburn street superintendent for Severn Trent. He also was employed in Syracuse by a series of private public works providers, ending his tenure there with Severn Trent.
Councilman Rolly Ortega accepted the presidency of the board and David Delp will serve as vice president.
They replace Jeff Carroll and Rolly Ortega.
Carolyn Condon approached the board regarding the second "A Day at the Lake" program sponsored by the Catherine Peachey Fund. Set for Sept. 14 in 2002, Condon said this year's day-long event to benefit breast cancer research will build on the successful programs and change others.
This year's guest speaker is Dr. Cathy Miller, the Indiana University Cancer Center oncologist who assisted Dr. Jerri Nielson diagnose and treat her breast cancer via satellite. At the time, Nielson was stationed at the North Pole.
Miller will talk about the historic treatment during her speech.
Condon said $74,000 was raised last year for breast cancer research. This year an anonymous donor will match all funds.
The board approved an agreement with H.J. Umbaugh & and Associates, Plymouth, at a cost of not less than $5,000 or more than $7,000 to study the sewage rates.
Town coordinator Craig Allebach said there has never been a wastewater treatment rate study. The results will facilitate a proposed agreement with Warsaw when Warsaw builds its second wastewater treatment plant. Winona Lake sewage is treated by Warsaw.
The agreement should be ready in a month, according to Todd Samuelson, an Umbaugh CPA. Samuelson said services include a review, analysis and summarization of the current interlocal agreement between the two governments.
Historical information regarding the amount of sewage Warsaw treats and related costs will be presented as well as future treatment and flow capacity.
Since Umbaugh works with both areas, councilman David Delp asked if this wouldn't be seen as a conflict of interest.
Samuelson said he hoped to be an asset to both groups.
Town attorney Jim Walmer said the conflict is obvious. However, Umbaugh's integrity is well-known throughout the state. Walmer said everyone's interests would receive fair and equal treatment by an Umbaugh adviser.
The board approved an amendment to Ordinance 98-4-4 regarding signs as recommended by the plan commission for signs not requiring a permit.
According to the amendment, all signs not requiring a permit are to stand alone and shall have a post, frame of fixture for display.
The construction of the sign, post, frame or fixture shall be of such construction as not be become a nuisance.
The amendment is designed to do away with signs nailed or tacked onto trees or utility posts.
Garage sale signs are still allowed to be posted in such a manner as long as they are displayed two days before the sale, have a name and address on the back and are removed within two days after the sale date.
Malcolm Gilbert said the police department's policy the first time is to speak to anyone abusing this privilege and fine them for a second offense.
Hoeppner Construction of Fort Wayne was selected as contractor of the senior center with a bid of $236,800.
Construction will probably begin after a preconstruction meeting Jan. 15, according to Allebach.
Locally, Hoeppner built the Plain Township fire department building and came highly recommended. The Department of Commerce has released funds of $200,000 for the project.
In other business, the board:
• Transferred $156,000 from the motor vehicle highway account; $30,000 from the mechanics salary account and monies from other accounts, adding up to $260,950, to the contractual services account to pay for Severn Trent services.
• Approved an amendment regarding the brownsfield grant that would negate any expenditures if the state cannot fund it.
• Reappointed all redevelopment commission members: Judy Mugg, Dennis Daniels, Judy Reneker, Al Disbro and Robert Piecuch, to one year terms.
• Appointed Holly DeLeo to the housing authority.
• Approved, for the 20th continuous year of service, Larry Long as town engineer .
Long said he looks forward to another year of working with the town. This is his 30th year as an engineer and the 25th year of operation for his firm, Larry Long and Associates.
The new fees are 4 percent greater than last year and are $81 per hour for the principal engineer; $78 per hour for a two-man survey crew; $50 per hour for drafting and computer work; and $25 per hour for administration fees.
• Agreed to serve as the government agency for $2.5 million in revenue bonds for Lakeland Christian Academy.
The board suspended the rules and approved the agreement on a first and final reading.
• Heard a report from fire department chief Mike Cox. Cox said there were 140 emergency runs in 2001. The department also added a ladder truck and a grass truck and an addition to the station, which includes sleeping quarters.
Cox thanked the council for their support and the auxiliary "for putting up with us."
The town council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 7 a.m.
Council members are Rolly Ortega, David Delp, Jerry Clevenger, Craig Snow and Jeff Carroll.
