North Webster Town Council President Dan Thystrup, left, and council member Lisa Strombeck listen during a recent meeting. InkFreeNews file photo by Keith Knepp.

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The North Webster Town Council met in a special session to vote upon a few items that were not ready for consideration at its regular meeting held earlier in the week.

The town agreed to sign a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation regarding the proposed construction of a sidewalk through town. This is the next step of creating a walking trail, which will eventually extend from the south side of North Webster all the way to Wawasee Middle School, located a few miles north of town on SR 13.

Within the town’s limits, the path will be a standard, cement sidewalk, running along the east side of SR 13. This will be the initial phase of the trail project, which must be approved by INDOT before proceeding further.

Sherm Goldenberg, a member of the North Webster Community Center board, attended the meeting to ask Beth Johnson, business development representative with USI Consultants, about the specifics of the trail near the community center. His concern was how it would mesh with NWCC’s current outdoor renovation projects. He was assured by Johnson it was just going to be a standard sidewalk, which fits in to NWCC’s plans.

The letter signed is necessary to move forward with the design of the first phase through town, which is estimated at $200,000. It is officially considered “safety improvements within the town limits,” according to Johnson.

The town will await INDOT review and approval, which is expected to happen quickly. Once approved by INDOT, the official contract will be signed and the project can officially begin.

While the town will be initially paying for the project, 90% will be immediately reimbursed by INDOT. The remaining 10% will be paid through donations from the K21 Foundation, Dekko Foundation, Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation. USI hopes construction can begin mid-to-late November.

In other business, during Tuesday’s regular meeting, utilities Superintendent Mike Noe brought forth a quote from Wagner-Meinert, Fort Wayne, for $36,952.87 for a new pump at lift station 3, as mandated by Indiana Department of Environmental Management. There was concern voiced at that meeting on how to pay for the necessary equipment, as it was not budgeted for this year.

Clerk-treasurer Leigh Anne Jessop informed the council she recently had conversations with Wagner-Meinert about the cost. The company agreed to work with the town on paying the bill in four installments, rather than having to pay the entire amount at once. The council agreed to this plan, with Jessop noting she was much more comfortable with this payment arrangement.

Additionally, in lieu of the town’s renewed trash removal contract with Borden Waste-Away, the monthly cost billed by the town to residential customers will increase by $1 per month, per residence. The new fee will start with the payment books mailed in September for October’s service.