Work is heading to the finish line on the state mandated upgrades to the town of North Webster sewer and wastewater treatment plant. The plant and street department are shown.

NORTH WEBSTER — “The end is in sight,” responded Jeremy Sponseller to a question by council member Lisa Strombeck at the Tuesday, May 16, meeting of the North Webster Town Council. The question, “When will the wastewater management plant and sewer work be completed?”

Mandated by the state of Indiana, the town hired Triad Associates to be the project’s engineering firm. Sponseller is its representative. He explained once the council accepted the punch list the contractors had 30 days to finish except for warranty work, which would be ongoing. “Each time the council approved a payout to the contractors, ten percent is withheld from it to be released upon the town’s approval. The contractors will want that money,” Sponseller said.

The council then approved payment of $98,060 to Selge Construction, Niles, Mich., and $8,620 to Crosby Construction, Fort Wayne. Severn Trent Utilities Manager Mike Noe said Selge was in Epworth Forest working on lift station one and they were waiting to hear about the north shore. Crosby still needs to do some seeding and other finish work at the plant.

The street sweeper has been out and will continue to operate throughout the town.

Council passed an ordinance for stop signs at the intersection of the west bound alley on SR 13 and Ward Lane. This leads into the North Webster Church of God parking lot. The stop signs will be placed immediately and the police department can write tickets 30 days from publication of the ordinance notice. “I really feel we need to give folks a chance to get used to stopping there,” explained Police Chief Greg Church.

Council also passed a state mandated lien fee increase by amending the current ordinance. Council President Jon Sroufe opened the meeting by recounting the contributions of County Councilman Bob Sanders, who died May 14.

Dave Tranter appeared for the Antique Outboard Motor Club. The regional organization hold two outdoor shows annually at North Webster Town Park. “They are always the third Saturday in May and the third Saturday in September and draw people from surrounding states and Canada as well as locals. It is a perfect venue for the events,” noted Tranter. He was concerned about parking due to the fact the muskie fishing tournament will be the same weekend this year. It will be held on Webster, Backwater, Tippecanoe and the Barbee chain of lakes.

The council decided to see what happens and play it by ear as far as the public parking lots are concerned. There is parking in front of the park, some reserved for the restaurant and lots across Dixie Drive and behind Dixie Haven Resort off East Himes Street. Both are owned by the town. Church advised parking be done on the street and not in residents’ yards.

An executive session was held before the meeting with council members Strombeck, Sroufe and David Waliczek, Jack Birch, town attorney, and Church.

The next regular meeting of the council is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, with the budget workshop to be held at 5 p.m. Both will be in the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.