Budget cuts lower than expected

By R. DAVID MCLAUGHLIN
Correspondent

June 26, 2008 09:43 am

— Ligonier, Ind. — At the Wednesday afternoon Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, Ligonier Mayor Patricia Fisel summarized the changes needed in the recently approved 2008 budget for the city.
Jackie Knafel of the Noble County Auditor’s office reported to the Common Council earlier in the week that a public hearing on tax rates for the county will take place July 10, after which the property tax rates for 2008 will be set.
Knafel estimated that tax bills could become due by September. However, property owners may pay an installment on taxes based on last year’s tax levels, before the bill arrives.
Fisel reported that the general fund was cut by $138,610 in the approved budget, and the parks budget was cut by $11,863.
“The cuts are less than we expected, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Fisel told the board, adding that the State Board of Accounts had already been contacted for help in making the budget adjustments in the least disruptive manner for the operation of the city.
Wastewater sludge removal
Newly appointed wastewater manager Ken Wright of management provider EMC reported to the council that an old brick-lined manhole on Lincolnway will need to be upgraded. Recent storms have produced flooding, and the manhole is deteriorating.
Wright told the board that he will summarize the work needed at the next board meeting.
Wright also updated the board on the ongoing sludge removal process at the wastewater plant. In this process, the sludge is moved from a storage tank to a container called a biowater bag and mixed with a polymer which removes the water from the sludge.
The relatively dry sludge can then be carried away by truck.
The department has used a biowater bag and a supply of polymer already owned by the city to remove the current accumulation of sludge.
The board approved the purchase of two additional barrels of polymer at a cost of $1,500 to finish the dewatering process now under way. It is expected that the cost of sludge disposal this year will be substantially reduced from last year’s bill of more than $120,000.
The board approved tabling “substantial completion” approval for the current wastewater upgrade project pending further verification of the work.
Booster station
The board approved an additional $750 in concrete costs for the new booster station project when recently dug footers settled and required the extra concrete.
Lack of time to compact the dirt led to the change, according to Water Superintendent Jeff Boyle.
The board also approved a contract with Northern Indiana Public Service Co. for electric service to the pump station.
The new station southeast of town is expected to be done by the target date of Aug. 1.
Tree removal
The board approved a bid secured by streets department head Mike Burdette to remove a dozen dead trees on city property. The bid, at $3,000, was the best of the three bids received, and will cover the cutting down of the trees. Cleanup will be done by city streets employees.