Pictured, from left, Mark Sullivan from Midwestern Engineering Inc., Indianapolis, and Warsaw Attorney Scott Reust look over plans for the Silver Lake wastewater and storm sewer project.

SILVER LAKE — Mark Sullivan from Midwestern Engineering, Inc., Indianapolis, attended the Silver Lake Town Council meeting Wednesday, Dec 13, to review plans for the wastewater and storm sewer project and discuss details for setting a bid opening date.

Sullivan shared with council members the plans for an addition of a new force main and improvements to the lift station.

In the initial planning stages of the project, it was determined that the main issue relates to the the fact that the one common force main is too small for all three pumps to pump at the same time, resulting in each station not running at full capacity.

“To get more capacity so that the main lift station doesn’t overflow, we are putting a parallel force main in,” Sullivan explained.

Sullivan and council members discussed minor adjustments to the project plan, such as the addition of vacuum sensors being added to the plan as an alternate. Sullivan informed council members that he and Silver Lake Street and Sewer Superintendent J.T. Prater had previously discussed the sensors.

“Whenever you have a vacuum valve that sticks open, you have to try to figure out which valve it is, which can be time-consuming,” said Sullivan. “Air Vac makes a sensor, which is a small light that goes in the side of the air vent so that whenever air is sucked in, it activates the sensor and the light will turn on. That way, all the crews will have to do is drive up the road and look for the light that is illuminated.”

Council members agreed to have this added to the project plan as an alternate, meaning that the town would not be obligated to include this, but it will allow them to see the price and determine if it appears affordable.

Ads will be placed later this month regarding bids for the project. An open bid meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The 2017 year end transfers resolution and 2017 end of year budget balances were approved by the council. The 2018 salary ordinance was also approved.

Other News:

• Council members approved the re-election of John Conley as Silver Lake Fire Chief.
• Conley put in a request for repairs to be made to the fire department generator. This request was approved.
• At the Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Department Christmas dinner held recently, Prater was selected as firefighter of the year.
• A two percent wage increase was given to town employees. The decision was made to give additional pay increases to Silver Lake Town Marshal Jason McGlennen and Chief Deputy Marshal Cody Mangun, as they transition from their probationary status to full-time employees.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10.