NW Signs Agreement With Sewer District
Utilities Manager Mike Noe brought two bids for sewer-related projects to the North Webster Town Council at its regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Also on the agenda was the agreement to sign an inter-local agreement between the town and the Knapp Lake Regional Sewer District.
During his utilities report Noe presented bids for a winged wall by the lift station on Stanley Street and new roofs for two lift stations on Dixie Drive. Awarded the wall bid was Thompson Concrete while Curry Roofing got the go ahead for metal roofs on the two lift stations. “Metal is cheaper and lasts longer,” explained Noe. Bids for fencing the east side of the recycling station south of New Market was tabled until more information could be obtained.
The council approved to have a sewer rate study done by London-Witte Group, an Indianapolis accounting firm. Town attorney Jack Birch recommended a rate study be done to see if the current sewer rates were taking care of the current sewer maintenance needs, which are increasing.
Noe also reported on the inspection summary of the sewer system mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. It is requiring an inspection and plan from the town to correct any problems that may be found. At least 12 lift stations need some type of repair according to Noe.
Council members Lisa Strombeck and Tim Hine were concerned that North Webster citizens would connect the rate study with the agreement with Knapp Lake. “That is not the case,” Birch said. “Knapp Lake Regional Sewer District will set the own rates for its customers and pay one bill to North Webster for use of the system determined by flow, monitored by a separate meter apart from the town’s meters. North Webster will not subsidize Knapp Lake. Knapp Lake will not subsidize North Webster.”
Representatives from the Knapp Lake RSD were Dean Bickell with attorney Matt Shipman. Details of the agreement had been worked out to all parties satisfaction with Birch. This is a simple, preliminary agreement with another to be agreed to after Knapp Lake receives the funding and once engineering reports are in, Birch noted.
Ordinance 2013-1 was passed to transfer $50,000 from the 2012 fund into the 2013 general fund. This needed to be done at the request of the state.
Town marshal Greg Church said the police department had 267 calls of service in July. Of those, 54 were agency assists, 37 traffic related and 34 citizen assists. Officers drove 3,368 miles using 301.1 gallons of fuel and served 655.75 hours.
The next meeting of the North Webster Town Council will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.