Posted on August 11, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents will have a chance to weigh in on proposed water and sewer upgrades. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, August 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the town hall, before the regular town council meeting at 6:30. It’s a required step before the town can pursue financing for the projects.
To pay for the water upgrades, North Judson hopes to get a loan through the State Revolving Fund, as well as grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The project would rehabilitate the two water towers, add a well, and upgrade the existing well pumps, among other improvements.
At the same time, the town is also planning $3.1 million in wastewater upgrades. That work will include modernizing the wastewater treatment plant and bringing the town’s combined sewer overflow into compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations. The town hopes to get a 40-year bond through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office to pay for the upgrades.
If all the funding arrangements fall into place, town officials expect to be able to make the upgrades without increasing water and sewer rates again.
Showing posts with label U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office. Show all posts
Friday, August 11, 2017
Thursday, July 6, 2017
North Judson Council Votes to Proceed with Water Infrastructure Upgrades
Posted on July 6, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council is taking steps to upgrade the town’s water infrastructure. Council members voted Monday to proceed with a plan to rehabilitate the two water towers, add a well, and upgrade the existing well pumps, among other improvements.
To pay for the upgrades, the town will pursue a loan through the State Revolving Fund, as well as grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. That’s a different approach than the town’s taking with its wastewater projects, which the town plans to finance with a bond from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office.
While council members approved the wastewater projects last week, they held off on the water improvements, over concern with Commonwealth Engineers’ cost estimates for a new well. It would serve as a backup for the town’s existing wells. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told council members this week that Commonwealth was able bring that cost down by about $130,000. “He took off the well house that they had originally put on there and replaced it with the type of well house that we’ve got on the existing wells now,” Horstmann explained.
However, much of that money was added back, after town officials asked that an altitude valve for the downtown water tower be added into the plan. While one was delivered when the tower was built over 20 years ago, an apparent oversight by the engineer meant it was never installed. That’s prevented the town from filling the water tower all the way.
As long as North Judson is able to get the OCRA grant, the town will be able to make all the proposed upgrades without increasing water rates. Otherwise, the town may have to scale back its plans, raise rates again, or pursue other grant opportunities. Council member Jane Ellen Felchuk said State Senator Ed Charbonneau’s office has told her about some new grants that may be available.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council is taking steps to upgrade the town’s water infrastructure. Council members voted Monday to proceed with a plan to rehabilitate the two water towers, add a well, and upgrade the existing well pumps, among other improvements.
To pay for the upgrades, the town will pursue a loan through the State Revolving Fund, as well as grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. That’s a different approach than the town’s taking with its wastewater projects, which the town plans to finance with a bond from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office.
While council members approved the wastewater projects last week, they held off on the water improvements, over concern with Commonwealth Engineers’ cost estimates for a new well. It would serve as a backup for the town’s existing wells. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told council members this week that Commonwealth was able bring that cost down by about $130,000. “He took off the well house that they had originally put on there and replaced it with the type of well house that we’ve got on the existing wells now,” Horstmann explained.
However, much of that money was added back, after town officials asked that an altitude valve for the downtown water tower be added into the plan. While one was delivered when the tower was built over 20 years ago, an apparent oversight by the engineer meant it was never installed. That’s prevented the town from filling the water tower all the way.
As long as North Judson is able to get the OCRA grant, the town will be able to make all the proposed upgrades without increasing water rates. Otherwise, the town may have to scale back its plans, raise rates again, or pursue other grant opportunities. Council member Jane Ellen Felchuk said State Senator Ed Charbonneau’s office has told her about some new grants that may be available.
Monday, July 3, 2017
North Judson Council Discusses Financing Options for Water, Wastewater Upgrades
Posted on July 3, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council has taken the first step toward upgrading the town’s wastewater infrastructure.
The first priority is to improve its combined sewer overflow, to bring the system into compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations. Town officials also want to modernize the wastewater treatment plant. The projected cost for all those upgrades is $3.1 million.
Accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates believes the town can make those improvements without any more rate increases, beyond those set to take effect next month. During a special town council meeting last week, Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins recommended that the town make all the upgrades at once. “Typically, we are behind the ball on most things, so I think we need to look at the future,” she said. “If it’s not going to cost us any more money to do this, we may need to maximize what we can do, and the interest rates are only going to be this low for a certain amount of time.”
To make the upgrades, the town council voted to pursue a 40-year bond through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office. However, that financing plan depends on whether Rural Development will let the town refinance its outstanding sewer bond as part of the process.
Council members also voted to hire Bose McKinney & Evans as the bond counsel for the project, at the recommendation of Town Attorney Justin Schramm. Construction is estimated to begin in 2019.
Meanwhile, the town council is also considering various improvements to the town’s water infrastructure, such as rehabilitating the two water towers, adding a well, and upgrading the existing well pumps. To cover the cost, council members plan to pursue a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. However, they decided not to make any decisions yet on the water projects, until they can get some more detailed cost estimates from Commonwealth Engineers.
They plan to continue the discussion during their regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council has taken the first step toward upgrading the town’s wastewater infrastructure.
The first priority is to improve its combined sewer overflow, to bring the system into compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations. Town officials also want to modernize the wastewater treatment plant. The projected cost for all those upgrades is $3.1 million.
Accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates believes the town can make those improvements without any more rate increases, beyond those set to take effect next month. During a special town council meeting last week, Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins recommended that the town make all the upgrades at once. “Typically, we are behind the ball on most things, so I think we need to look at the future,” she said. “If it’s not going to cost us any more money to do this, we may need to maximize what we can do, and the interest rates are only going to be this low for a certain amount of time.”
To make the upgrades, the town council voted to pursue a 40-year bond through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office. However, that financing plan depends on whether Rural Development will let the town refinance its outstanding sewer bond as part of the process.
Council members also voted to hire Bose McKinney & Evans as the bond counsel for the project, at the recommendation of Town Attorney Justin Schramm. Construction is estimated to begin in 2019.
Meanwhile, the town council is also considering various improvements to the town’s water infrastructure, such as rehabilitating the two water towers, adding a well, and upgrading the existing well pumps. To cover the cost, council members plan to pursue a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. However, they decided not to make any decisions yet on the water projects, until they can get some more detailed cost estimates from Commonwealth Engineers.
They plan to continue the discussion during their regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
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