Timeline Announced For Sewer Bids, Public Hearing
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — Tentative dates for bids and a public hearing on rates for the Tippecanoe & Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District were announced during the board’s meeting Monday, May 13.
Project bids are expected to be advertised around June 29 and opened at a special meeting July 27. The project will be bid in two parts. Following the bid openings, information will be sent to Baker Tilly to compute a rate ordinance. It is expected the ordinance will be introduced Aug. 8, with a public hearing Aug. 29, followed by the adoption of the ordinance.
Formal closing for funds from the State Revolving Fund is expected in late September, followed by the USDA Rural Development fund closing.
Andrew Boxberger, attorney, stated during a later discussion regarding change orders causing potential cost increases, that $11.641 million will be received through a USDA Rural Development grant, $25 million through a USDA loan, $8.391 million loan from the SRF and a $5 million SRF grant. The remaining $3.68 million will come through an additional loan through the SRF or USDA. The project is estimated at $45 million with a $3 million cushion built-in.
During business matters, Chuck Simpson, board member and member of the district’s finance committee, recommended Gemini Billing Services Inc., North Manchester, be hired to handle future billing for the district. He stated three quotes were received with a wide range of costs per customer. Gemini was the lowest at $2.50 per customer. The other two companies quoted costs of $5.85 and $4.50 per customer. Gemini will be using coupon books, sent to each of the estimated 1,800 customers.
Ed Ormsby, board member and finance committee member, said there was a $43,000 difference between the two lowest quotes. TriLakes and Atsbury were the other two quotes. “This will save us all $40,000 a year,” he stated. It was noted Gemini is requesting a contract be signed and an up-front fee of $2,000. The other two companies requested $6,000 and $10,000 up-front fees.
The board denied a petition for waiver of connection exemption by Timothy Nussbaum, who missed the April 4 sewer exemption deadline. He had installed an elaborate septic system in 2005 and initially believed he was exempt; however, he later learned this was not the case. Nussbaum will work with Jones Petrie Rafinski engineers on the grinder pump installation.
“Under the statute you don’t qualify for an exemption, unfortunately,” stated Boxberger.
An ad hoc committee was established to review quotes from companies, including JPR, for future district administrator and district engineer services.
The board will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 11