Pictured, from left, Silver Lake Council Member Phil Shalley, Council President Chad Miner and Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley.

SILVER LAKE — Council members approved claims submitted by Mark Sullivan from Midwestern Engineers, Inc., Indianapolis, at the Silver Lake Town Council meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 12, and reviewed progress on the sewer/stormwater project. 

“Essentially all the work is complete per the pay claim,” said Sullivan. “There are a couple of items on there, the two sections of pipe that were in conflict with the gas main. That gas main has been decommissioned and those two segments can be put in. We are looking at replacing that pipe next week.”

According to Sullivan, there is a leak at the lift station that needs to be addressed. Ty Bancroft, contractor for The Bancroft Companies, South Bend, stated they will look into this and get it taken care of.

Silver Lake Street and Sewer Superintendent JT Prater stated that manhole #34 is up approximately 6 inches above the ground. Prater stated there is no way water will run into the grate and asked if the ring could be cut down. Both Sullivan and Bancroft agreed that the purpose of that particular manhole is not to take in water.

“It probably should have had a solid lid on it,” Sullivan said. “The water is actually taken in from that swell by the pipe down at the bottom of the swell. I can tell you that the intent of that wasn’t necessary to take in water.”

“My feeling is, if it’s going to have that grate on it, why not lower it down so it can take in some water,” said Prater. “There’s water running down by it and it’s diverting down into the wall.”

Bancroft offered to check into this and suggested that he may be able to bring the grade up around the area of the manhole rather than leveling the manhole down. Prater stated this would be an acceptable solution.

Santa Claus will be coming to Silver Lake Thursday, Dec. 20. He will be riding through town in a fire truck starting at 6 p.m. and will stop by the Old Fire Station, located at 104 N. Jefferson St. All residents are invited to join Santa for cookies and hot chocolate from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Children who attend will receive a small gift.

Other News:

• New water meters for the town have been ordered and are expected to arrive next month.
• A year-end meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9.