Tippy, Chapman Sewer Project Continues On Schedule
By Deb Patterson
Staff Writer
NORTH WEBSTER — Information continues to be gathered by Jones Petrie Rafinski, engineers for the Tippecanoe & Chapman Regional Sewer District, on plans for the district’s sewer project around the two lakes. An update on the project was presented Monday evening, April 12, by Steve Henschen, JPR senior staff engineer.
The progress to date by JPR is according to the initial schedule set out for the project.
He noted the preliminary engineering report has been accepted and an initial coordinating meeting will be held with state revolving fund officials to present more details about the project will take place in the near future. Henschen stated the district has already received bonus points on the SRF’s scoring procedure for having the PER submitted before the end of March. The project will now be evaluated for placement on the project priority list this spring. The amount and type of funding to be provided will be announced in July or early August.
Henschen explained projects ranking in the top two to five spots will receive the most grant funds. He explained the upcoming meeting will focus on how real the project will be.
Board member Ed Ormsby presented the grinder station location guidelines to the board, which was approved. It was noted the district reserved the right to deviate from the guidelines as deemed necessary. While the guidelines spell out the location of the stations, there is also the ability for a property owner to appeal the locations. “We want to work with our constituents as much as we can,” Ormsby stated.
The appeal timeline was discussed and will be developed. An amendment will be added to the guidelines and both the guidelines and timeline will be made available on the district’s website.
Henschen stated homeowners are welcome to talk to JPR staff at any time regarding questions and concerns. Jon Tyler, board president, noted he had received a number of calls from Tippecanoe Lake residents expressing appreciation of the JPR employees being polite and eager to answer questions.
While the survey work is 95 percent, complete research continues on the road right of way. It was reiterated documents regarding right of way acquisition and easements will be sent to property owners when 90 percent of the right of way details are available. It is expected these documents, along with the district’s grinder pump station location policy could be sent out in several months. Andrew Boxburger, attorney, noted he is working on the right of way agreements.
During other discussion, the board reviewed 10 pages of an 80-page draft of an equipment pre-selection package for pressure sewer grinder stations. Henschen had explained earlier the advantages of equipment pre-selection. He noted this avoids redesign efforts after bidding and during construction, it establishes prices for the equipment prior to bidding, eliminates vendors bundling equipment in one package, ensures the district is getting the best equipment to fit the needs and provides uniformity across the project.
Once the package is approved by Boxberger, the document will be advertised with quotes to be received May 10. It is planned the quotes will be tabled, then reviewed by the engineering committee with a recommendation made at the June 14 board meeting. It was noted other pre-selection packages will be prepared for distribution in June.