By DAVE SCHULTZ
The plans for improvements to Ossian’s wastewater collection system will soon be on the way to the Indiana Finance Authority for potential funding through the State Revolving Loan Fund.
After a presentation by Jim Breckler of Engineering Resources, restating the need for the upgrade, the four council members present — Josh Barkley, Stephanie Tucker, Jason House, and Dennis Ealing — voted to allow Breckler to send the documentation to the IFA. According to a timeline Breckler displayed, he will have those documents to the state by next Monday, April 17.
A public hearing on the project was the first item of business during Monday night’s meeting of the Ossian Town Council. No one spoke to Breckler or the council about it.
Six alternatives were considered, and a two-phase alternative was chosen. Key elements will be the replacement of the town’s aging lift stations‚ one on Mill Street, which is in the right of way and forces traffic to go around it, and the other on Davis Road.
Breckler said that the town’s projected growth will be 413 over the next five years. The IFA requires that the preliminary engineering report account for future growth.
Septic systems north of town are also contaminating waterways in the area, Breckler said, citing reports from the Wells County Health Department.
Because the State Revolving Fund puts a high priority on clearing up failing septic systems, Breckler said the town has a good chance of obtaining grants and forgivable loans in the $2.5 million range. Since that’s not a certainty, he gave two potential effects on rates — $61.90 for typical customers if the town does not receive a grant and $50.16, which is the current rate, if a grant is received.
The council members voted to send the PER on to the state.
In other business Monday night, Kurt Jack was formally introduced during the meeting as the town’s new police chief and received a round of applause from those present. Barkley, the council’s president, affirmed that he wants to see the Ossian Police Department with a full roster, but he also acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“We want to get back to a full police force. It’s been a while since we’ve had one,” Barkley said. He noted that the town’s agreement with the Wells County Sheriff’s Department for additional coverage in town has worked well, but the cost — $45 an hour — is something he did not want to commit to.
Nevertheless, Barkley said, “We want to give the police department everything we can.”
Also, the board heard a request from Scott Lengerich, who wanted to reopen the council’s decision to not allow chickens in the city limits. Lengerich said the chickens would help his mentally handicapped son; he said chickens could serve as therapy animals.
Lengerich said he would come to the council next month with a petition, singed by as many town residents as he could contact, to ask the council to reopen the discussion.
The council also ratified the appointment of Gary Guenin, a member of the Parks Board, to the Wells County Tourism Commission.
daves@news-banner.com
