City hopes for $9M grant to help with combined sewer overflow project

By Nate Smith

The city is very close to a possible $9 million in sewer funding.

Announced at Monday’s City Council meeting, leaders learned that the city is applying for a grant for their combined sewer overflow project and they are waiting on a letter for state approval.

Before the council meeting, a grant hearing for the community development block grant was held. The grant, written by the Southern Indiana Development Commission, will include $15 million in matching funds the city will borrow from the state revolving loan fund.

Mayor Larry Haag said Monday that the state will be sending a construction permit today.

“We have the opportunity to build one of the greenest projects in the Midwest,” Haag said.

All that is missed is one letter of approval from the state Historical Commission.

The total $24 million project will take care of the state’s burden with IDEM and the federal Environmental Protection Agency by building a constructed wetlands and collection basins.

But time is running out for the grant application.

“We are on a really short time frame to make the application,” Judy Dicus-Thoman with Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates said.

The council also passed a resolution in support of the grant application.

After the meeting, Haag said the grant would be awarded in the early spring.

“We feel it is though we can stage the project accordingly so it is affordable to the rate payers,” Haag said. “Things are looking very good.”

In other business:

PARKING FINES TO GO UP

Attention sectional and regional fans, parking fines are going up.

The council passed an ordinance raising the fees to $50 for handicapped space violations, $100 for a large vehicle fine and $25 for parking violations.

Police Chief Steve Riney asked the council to look into the increase two weeks ago in time for next week’s boys basketball tournament.

The council moved to suspend regular rules and unanimously approved rising the fines. The ordinance also has to be published within 30 days of the passage.

CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT

Clerk-Treasurer Elaine Wellman gave her annual report to the council. The city is reporting a cash balance for this year for the second year in a row, but will pay a little more in debt in 2010, namely to the county for economic development bonds.

CONCESSION STAND

The council and the Board of Public Works and Safety approved Scoops Ice Cream to be the concession stand vendors at the Waterworld of Washington this summer. Scoops owner David Gray said in a proposal the stand will offer ice cream, soft drinks and other items. The stand will give five percent of its gross profits to the city.

“I think we are pretty lucky to have Scoops submit a proposal,” Councilman Tom Baumert said.

ERT DEMONSTRATION

The city police’s emergency response team gave the council a presentation on what it does for the city.

Capt. Tim Guy said the team began in 1999 and responds to tactical actions such as standoffs, hostage situations, school shootings and drug raids.

The team showed the council some of its tools and equipment. Although some equipment was purchased through city funds and grants, the officers also purchase their own equipment at times to make sure the gear is what they need for the situation.

“We have a lot of guys on the team and they do a really good job,” Guy said.

The ERT team trains with the Bloomington Police Department and the Jasper Police Department several times a year.

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS

After discussion last month, City Attorney Jeff Norris presented a report on sewer construction permits. Norris said the last time the 1978 ordinance was modified was in 1989 and due for an update.

“It’s a little confusing,” Norris said. He also said the policy can be fixed easily with the council, public works and department heads working together to “get on the same page.”

Haag said several informal meetings would be scheduled to update the ordinance and policy.

DEMOLITION BIDS

The council opened bids from two vendors for demolition of several pieces of property.

The properties up for demolition and clean up are at 309 N.W. 11th St., 308 Vine St., 304 Vine St., and 15 W. Pearl St.

At public works, the bids were referred to Building Commissioner Chris Wimmenauer for review.

STREET DEPARTMENT

Street Department Superintendent Ernie Evans informed the council the bus purchased through stimulus funds will be delivered today.

Evans also publicly thanked several who donated food and other items to street department workers during last week’s snow.

“People appreciate it and my guys appreciate it,” Evans said.

Haag also thanked city electric, sewer and water department employees for their work during the large snow, including picking up snow on Main Street.

PERSONNEL

Public works approved personnel changes at two city departments.

At the police department, Ptl. Kyle Babrick will move from second shift to third shift and Ptl. Darin Clifton was moved temporarily from swing shift to third shift, but was not compensated for it. The change will give Clifton the lost pay.

At the wastewater department, lab technician Adam Rayman will move to a swing shift operator while Mark Wichman will move into the lab.

ROAD CLOSING

The Daviess County Family YMCA asked the council to close parts of N.E. Second Street near Hefron and Flora streets on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its Healthy Kids Day.

Public works approved the request.

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