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Published: May 15, 2008 11:07 am
City board considers making water ops ‘private’
By R. DAVID MCLAUGHLIN
Correspondent
LIGONIER, Ind. — On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Ligonier Board of Public Works and Safety listened to a proposal to have a private operator for the water department.
Robert Trader of EMC, which manages the city’s wastewater treatment plant, made the proposal for his company to take over operations of the water department also.
EMC officials were asked by city officials to make a proposal in hopes of reducing costs in the face of uncertain tax revenues.
The proposal offered by EMC proposes a savings of $80,000 to $120,000 per year on a five-year contract.
The proposal also includes changes in operation and monitoring to improve water quality and upgrade city equipment. Inventory would be reduced to save money.
More frequent flushing of the system would help to improve water quality, he said.
EMC would assume responsibility for areas of the $1.1 million city water budget, amounting to $900,000, and realize the savings in those accounts.
Employees could either become EMC employees or remain as city employees, at the city’s discretion. The board will take the proposal under advisement.
Bridge Street
As a result of a recent inspection by Noble County highway authorities, the Bridge Street bridge will be closed to heavy truck traffic and restricted to traffic of 3 tons or less until the bridge is rebuilt by county crews this summer.
The board received a proposal from city engineering consultant Rick Pharis of Brads-Ko Engineering outlining the work that would need to be done by the city to improve the roadway at the time the bridge is rebuilt.
According to Pharis, the rebuilding of curbs and gutters, along with minimal repair of the road surface, will cost an estimated $150,000.
Removing all of the surface and rebuilding the roadway from the base, along with storm drain improvements, will increase the cost to an estimated $190,000. The proposed schedule calls for advertising of the work on June 5 and 12, followed by a meeting of those interested in submitting bids to answer questions. Bids will be opened at the June 25 session, and awarded on June 25 or the following session in July.
The board approved a detour during the project that will include Lincolnway, Cavin, Richmond, Martin and Gerber.
Booster pump station
Water Superintendent Jeff Boyle told the board that water in the main running southeast to the West Noble campus will be shut off around 7 p.m. May 22 in order to install the check valve for the new booster pump station that will improve water pressure for the area southeast of the city. The water will be turned on later that night.
Fire dispatchers
The board received the applications of Josh Snyder, a current fire department member, and Josh Beck, a former dispatcher, for positions as part-time dispatchers for the department.
Fire Chief Jeremy Snyder recommended the two, and the board approved their hiring.
Other business
The board approved a change order for $4,919, and a scheduled payment for $46,000 to Fetters Construction for work on the wastewater plant upgrade project.
Local resident John Petit reported to the board that all of the details have been finalized transferring the Essex Wire property to the city. The building is being salvaged for recycling and the property is expected to be used by the city for a park.
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