Work, Payments Continue On Sewer Upgrades
NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Town Council agreed to a third payment installment to Crosby Construction, Fort Wayne, for work progressing on the state mandated improvements for the wastewater treatment facility and sewers. The meeting was held Tuesday, July 19, at the North Webster Community Center.
Jeremy Sponseller represented the town’s engineering firm, Triad Associates, for the project. The bill presented and approved was for $223,218. During his report, Severn Trent Utility Manager Mike Noe asked for $9,459.94 to replumb rusty pipes and get new filters for the lift stations. “There is no sense to redoing the other things and not updating these so they will last longer and work better,” he noted. Council agreed. Noe also is looking into new lights that were not in the original plan for the wastewater treatment plant.
A presentation on the Rock Solid Teen Center was given by Carol Boone, a center volunteer. “We want all three communities in the Wawasee Community School Corp. area to be aware of the work that has been done, is being done and what is proposed for the teen center,” she explained.
Started by a group of volunteers led by Rev. Mark Eastway, then with St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse, the center serves at risk youth from sixth grade through high school. Currently the program meets during the school year on Thursdays after school at Wawasee High School.
The goal is to utilize the current Syracuse Elementary when it is vacated. A new elementary will open for the 2017-18 school year. The idea is to partner with other youth oriented organizations to use the building for life changing experiences and programs.
Teens are attracted to the organization with food, fun activities and a safe and secure place to hang out. “The goal is to build relationships with the youth and be positive mentors to them,” Boone said.
Donations are being accepted with the group’s treasurer Rebecca Staley and can be sent to Rock Solid Teen Center, 14770 Falcon Lane, Goshen, IN 46526. More information is available online www.rocksolid.us.
Officer Candace Smythe reported for the North Webster Police Department. Calls of service for June numbered 237 with the most being traffic related and citizens assists. Officers worked 654.24 hours, drove, 3,384 miles and used 269.8 gallons of fuel.
The park department was represented by Park Board President Brian Sands. Positive comments on the park were shared with and by the council.
Attending the meeting were council members Jon Sroufe, Lisa Strombeck and David Waliczek, Clerk-Treasurer Betsy Luce, town attorney Jack Birch, Sponseller, Noe, Boone, Smythe and Sands.
The next regular meeting of the North Webster Town Council will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 16, North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.