SILVER LAKE — The town of Silver Lake is one step closer to applying for a grant to upgrade its sewer and stormwater systems following its regular meeting Wednesday, Dec. 9.

First on the agenda was a public hearing on a sewer planning grant the council hopes to obtain.

Shannon McLeod, a federal grant writer with Priority Project Resources, and Mark Sullivan of Midwestern Engineers Inc. were both present. Sullivan explained that, when it rains heavily, all three of Silver Lake’s three main lift stations kick on at once, taxing the pumps and overwhelming the force main.

To solve the overflow problem, Sullivan suggested several upgrades, including installing a new force main, new pumps and a wet well and stormwater improvements north of Dixie Drive, from Kermit to Courtland and in the Pearson Road area. All of this, he projected to cost around $561,200.

Other, miscellaneous costs associated with the project are estimated at around $275,000, for a total of $836,200.

McLeod said grants are available from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs for sewer and stormwater. However, neither she nor Sullivan were confident that OCRA would issue a grant for a project that combines both.

The council approved moving forward with the process and will meet with McLeod the afternoon of the Jan. 13 regular council meeting.

Pertaining to Silver Lake’s blight program, two houses have already been demolished and one is in the works. Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley expressed frustration that requirements of the project were not fully explained to the town prior to demolition.

One example was that, during demolition of one of the properties, it was pointed out that one demolition needs to be completed and grass seeded before another can begin. Conley commented that grass seeding is not even something that generally takes place in December.

“A list from the get-go of what they wanted would have been nice,” she said.

Other News

• The council approved an end-of-year civil appropriation transfer and utility appropriation transfer. Conley explained that this is typical of the end of the year. No money was spent, but extra money from one fund was transferred into another fund that did not have quite enough.
• Assistant Fire Chief John Conley thanked firefighter Brad Spratt, who is retiring after 21 years of service. The council also recognized Dave Reed for 25 years of service and counting.
• Joey McNeal of the water department noted that one of the wells blew several fuses and that the problem has been fixed.