The Winamac Town Board discussed the recent paving work done as part of the completion of the sewer separation project in the downtown area.
Wastewater Superintendent Brad Zellers told the Board that there are some spots where the paving was done too quickly and it didn’t settle right. There are several areas that will need to be redone in the spring. The Board can’t close out the project until all of the work is done to the Board’s approval.
The North Judson Town Board members approved the 2012 budget this week. All funds, including the general fund, local roads and streets, motor vehicle highway, parks, cumulative capital improvements, and cumulative capital development funds total $785,360.
Winamac Wastewater Superintendent, Brad Zellers, came before the Winamac Town Board this week to report on the $5.2 million dollar sewer separation project. Zellers said the project is actually ahead of schedule and that all of the pipes are in the ground. The installation of some manholes and catch basins have yet to be completed. Also to be determined is if the compaction is adequate to pave the streets. IDEM rules are that the pipes must be in the ground 30 days before the paving can begin, which would put it in the middle of November.
The North Judson Town Board discussed the State Road 39 project and its progress last week.
The project is going smoothly and paving on State Road 39 should begin this week. Another half block has been added to this project as leftover funds allowed for the completion of additional work. This will take care of the sewer separation issue on that part of town. Only a small section of town needs to be done before all of the storm water and sewer drains are separated throughout the town.
The Winamac Town Board discussed the sewer separation project at their meeting this week.
The Board heard that the wastewater piping had been fixed and the sewer separation was now being done on Riverside Drive between Rowan and 13th streets. The Board opened bids for the paving part of the project and pending further review of the specs from the Board Attorney, the lowest bid will be approved and that came from Central Paving at $53,545. Part of Washington Street will be paved in addition to this project. The Board hopes the entire project can be completed by the end of November or before the weather prohibits the application of asphalt.
The North Judson Town Board approved a change order with the State Road 39 project during their meeting this week. The project originally came under bid by approximately $108,000 and with this leftover grant money, the Board approved sewer separation work to be done on two additional blocks at a cost of $75,969. That leaves $33,000 left in available grant funds for change orders. Nies Engineering is currently working on sewer separation project.
North Judson Clerk-Treasurer, Connie Miller, reported yesterday that the State Road 39 sewer separation project will begin today. Miller said she has been informed that the road through the construction area will remain open, but motorists can expect slight delays. If you have breathing problems, you may want to close your vehicle’s windows while traveling through the construction site.
The North Judson Town Board approved a request to send the 2012 budget out for advertising. The State allowed the Board to increase the General Fund by 2.9% and that is what the Board will be advertising for this year’s budget. The Board is seeking $618,610 for the General Fund.
After the budget is advertised, the budget will be sent to the Auditor’s office and the County Council will review and approve or reject the budget in October. If all is approved, the Board will adopt the budget in October.
The sewer separation project in the Town of Winamac has resumed after Local 150 Union workers returned to the job. Contract issues had sidelined the project. Workers were off the job three weeks, and they are currently on Madison Street. The crews are trying to complete the Burson Street part of the project.
During their meeting Monday, the Winamac Town Board members heard from a group of concerned citizens about the extension of the runway at Arens Field in Winamac. The citizens are against the project and informed the members of why they are against the project. The biggest concern is the acquisition of land from farmers to extend the runway.
The Board learned that the Town was denied a Recreational Trails Grant to be used to finish the Panhandle Pathway project. The Town will apply for the grant again next year.
The engineers working on the sewer separation project in the downtown area appeared before the Winamac Town Board to give them an update on the project. The project is going along well and the workers were able to complete the work by the fire department in one day so the road could be open in the case of an emergency. Work is being done around the Cruisers area this week.
The North Judson Town Board approved the final reading on an ordinance that establishes the requirements for responsible and responsive bidders that bid on a town project. The Board is required to accept the lowest bid received. Under this ordinance, if the Town Board members receive a low bid on a project and the lowest bidder is found to not be the best company for the job and it can be documented, the Town would have the right to accept the next lowest bid.
The Town of Winamac will not pick up bagged grass again this year. According to Town Manager, Jim Conner, the Town Board decided that residents will need to dispose of their own grass clippings. The issue was brought up last year when the Town Board and Wastewater Superintendent, Brad Zellers, expressed concern about the grass clippings in the streets and the problems they cause with the sewer system, especially during rains.
