NORTH WEBSTER — News and requests resulting from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management mandated improvements to the North Webster sewer system and treatment plant dominated the Tuesday, March 22, meeting of the North Webster Town Council. It was held at the North Webster Community Center.

Severn Trent Utilities Manager Mike Noe and Triad Associates Engineering Consultant Jeremy Sponseller filled in the details and Noe asked for several appropriations for the project. Noe noted Selge Construction., Niles, Mich., and Crosby Construction, Fort Wayne, are continuing work on the project.

Approval for spending within the funds already designated for the mandated upgrade was approved by council for a total of $149,761. Also, payments to Selge were approved in the amount of $49,167 and to Triad for $10,530.

Alarms will be installed on all 24 lift stations in the system. Noe asked for and received permission to try 30 new air vacuum pump alarms to see how well they worked. These will alert personnel to problems by remaining lighted. Approval was given to purchase and install two vacuum pumps for a total of $26,000 at lift station B.

The main station in the Epworth Forest section of the sewer system will get two new pumps. It is was thought the cost would be $165,000 but a new bid came in at $51,271. The lower figure was approved as were plant clarifiers at a cost of $19,690 including installation.

Noe also said the new mower had arrived and the North Webster Town Park is taking over the old mower. It will be serviced and ready to go.

Police Chief Greg Church brought up the need for stop signs. Traffic has been taking off at a good clip through the North Webster Church of God parking lot from Ward Lane. Two additional stop signs will be added for southbound and westbound traffic. Town Attorney Jack Birch will draw an ordinance for consideration at the next meeting and Noe was authorized to place the signs.

There were 173 calls of police service in February with the highest being citizen assists and traffic related incidents. Officers worked 625.5 hours, drove 4,135 miles and used 315.4 gallons of fuel.

Members of the council are Jon Sroufe, Lisa Strombeck and David Waliczek. Betsy Luce is clerk-treasurer. All were present for the meeting.

The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.