While discussing the proposed process of operations, Chuck Simpson asked why they could not bundle administrative work with the operational maintenance scope of work, especially since the companies offer it anyway. Henschen explained that the Engineering Committee considered it, but was focused on lining up operations. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.

By Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The Tippecanoe and Chapman Regional Sewer District held their regular board meeting, Monday, Sept. 11.

The board approved two change orders, including $33,917.04 to Contract A. The board also approved the change order of $12,575.25 to Contract B. Neither change order requested time extensions. Both change orders dealt with accommodating property owners, shifting grinder station locations and various utility requests.

Kim Hathaway took the board through the financial report and bank reconciliation. He informed the board of the payments of four checks: $178,000 to Bank of New York; $1,881,496.42 to Sell Construction; $16,794.25 to Niblock Excavating; and $342,464.31 to Sell Construction.

He then took the board through the approval of claims. He has 10 invoices he will be paying through the month of September, totaling $156,318,86. The board voted to delay payment of $4,189.69 to Baker-Tilly until they can get a couple operational kinks ironed out.

Hathaway asked the board to vote in another authorized check signer. As it stands now, Hathaway is the only board member authorized to sign checks. The board approved Jeff Thornburgh to be a secondary signer.

Jeff Rowe of Baker-Tilly informed the board of the progress made on the engagement scope of service for the East Weber area. The scope of service has been submitted to the board, but was tabled until next month so the board can have more time to look it over.

Steve Henschen took the board through some of the options for the RFP process of operations. The engineering committee will sift through the proposals and bring a couple back to the board as recommendations during the regular November board meeting. The committee is sending notice to the following companies: InfraMark, Asbury Environmental and Aqua Indiana. The proposals are due in late October.

“The services also include maintenance?” Chuck Simpson asked Henschen.
“Yes, not only maintenance but preventative maintenance,” Henschen explained.
“Administrative? Billing?” Simpson pressed.
“No, operations is strictly operating the system.”
Simpson asked to consider the proposals be split so they companies can bid on the operations and the administrative work.

Henschen also informed the board of the customer connection policy. He explained the engineering committee is still in the drafting process, but it expects it go be able to go before the board during next month’s regular board meeting. The customer connection policy will spell out the specific pipe material types and how to properly abandon septic tanks. Once the policy is approved, it will be available on the Tippecanoe and Chapman RSD website.

The board approved the pay applications of three contracts. They approved the payment of Contract A for $637,719.15, which has 80% of overall pipe installed and 45% of grinder stations installed. Contract A is 63% earned from the contract amount. They approved the payment of Contact B for $985,814.21, which has 38% of overall pipe installed and 35% of grinder stations installed. Contract B is 40% earned. They approved the payment of Contract C for $462,100.28. Contract C is 10% earned. No installation work has started on Contact C.

The project is 46% complete through the project time. The project has used 28% of the construction contingency and variance payment amount.
“We are tracking less from a time and cost standpoint,” Henschen explained to the board.

The next regular Tippecanoe and Chapman Regional Sewer District meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.