Pictured, from left, are Claypool Town Council President Benny Stage Jr. and Council Member Don Miller. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Adkins.

By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

CLAYPOOL — A rate increase for Claypool’s sewer utility was discussed during a Tuesday, June 17, council meeting.

Tyler Coffel, a manager with Baker Tilly, reviewed the rate study with council members, as Claypool will be closing on its sewer bonds in July. Baker Tilly is the financial advisor for the town’s sewer project.

“In total, the project cost is $4,612,000,” said Coffel. “It’s going to be funded from five different funding sources.”

These sources include the State Revolving Fund, and grants from the K21 Health Foundation and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Coffel proposed a 45% rate increase, utilized in three phases through early 2027. The phases would be implemented as follows: Oct. 1, 2025, 15%; July 1, 2026, 13%; and January 2027, 27%. This rate increase includes a TIF pledge.

“In 2027, we have the user rate going up to $106.77 for a 4,000-gallon user,” said Coffel.

A public hearing on an ordinance amending the town’s sewer rates will take place at the council’s July 15 meeting.

Dennis Otten, a partner in Bose McKinney & Evans’ Public Finance and Utilities Group, will serve as the town’s bond counsel. The town council approved the introduction and adoption of a bond ordinance.

Ben Adams, project manager with Commonwealth Engineers Inc., provided bid updates on wastewater and stormwater improvement projects. He recommended council approve the bids from the lowest bidders.

Council Member Don Miller expressed concern with costs. Bid tabulation for the wastewater and stormwater improvement projects are listed on Commonwealth’s website.

“The treatment facility costs were definitely higher than what we anticipated,” said Adams. “The cleaning portion was actually less than what our estimates were but sadly, we only got one bid on the storm sewer job, and I thought they put a pretty good number on it.”

The council accepted the lowest bids but said they had still been under the impression that Commonwealth’s plans included a wastewater building. Adams said the building was very cost-prohibitive and not in the plans. He estimated it would cost an additional $700,000 for the building. Adams told council if they wanted to include the building in its plans they would have to hold another introductory meeting for the proposed sewer rates, which would be higher with the building’s inclusion.

No Chickens Allowed

Council continued discussions on the allowance of chickens within town limits after a resident inquired about the matter in May. At this point in time, chickens will not be permitted within town limits. The council referenced a recent request by a Palestine Lake resident to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals. At that meeting, the resident requested to keep four chickens within a residential district but was denied due to bird flu concerns.

Council said they had planned to pass an ordinance allowing residents to keep chickens but decided not to do so after the June 10 BZA meeting.

“(The county) said anybody who wanted to have chickens would still have to go to the county to apply for a variance, and they will not give one right now,” said Council President Benny Stage Jr.

“It’s out of our hands,” said Council Member Gene Warner. “We were going to pass it until this came about. No matter what we pass, they’re going to override us.”

“From what I understood, all the major (egg) producers in the county had gotten with the county because of the bird flu, and they put a lid on this, supposedly, county-wide,” said Stage.

Upcoming Kickoff For Strategic Plan/Park Concept

Allie Daugherty, business development manager for HWC Engineering; and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe attended the council meeting to provide an update about a planning grant for a park concept.

Roe said The Dekko Foundation would cover $4,400 for the concept, with the town needing to look into a $1,100 contribution. Claypool would be able to use a park concept as a visual tool for pursuing grants for a park project. They provided council with information on The Dekko Foundation’s grant process.

Daugherty said the town’s strategic plan kickoff meeting will take place on July 8 and recommended council assemble a small group of stakeholders for a strategic plan committee. She also recommended the town have at least 10 people on the committee. Stage told those in attendance that anyone in the community wanting to join can do so.

Council also:

• Approved Kosciusko REMC using right-of-ways and easements to begin boring work for the installation of Kosciusko Connect. Council told residents construction would potentially start the week of June 23.
• Approved a six-month maintenance program for the town’s two lift stations in the amount of $1,590 per session.
• Heard the town’s website should be live the week of June 23. The address is townofclaypool.org.
• Approved the Claypool Police Department assisting with traffic during Silver Lake Days on June 20 and 21.

The council’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Claypool Lions Club building. A TIF meeting will also take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the town barn.