By DAVE SCHULTZ
Some customers of the Wells County Regional Sewer District had a question for the board Monday night: What’s taking so long?
“What’s been the holdup?” asked Jerry Sheets. “It (the Craigville project) was supposed to be done in June.” Things such as materials, an electrical problem, and pressure problems were mentioned but Sheets had a rejoinder: “Somebody’s not doing the job and it’s costing us $95 a month.”
“Is there an updated timeline as to when we will be able to hook up?” asked Nathan Huss.
There were others who asked similar questions, but Sheets wanted to know about fining the company, VTF Excavating. Andy Stoller, a member of the board, said the delays, while aggravating, were not as bad as the alternative: “If we get caught up in a legal battle, we will all wind up paying more.”
Levi Morrison of Wessler Engineering, noted several items that he listed as “progress, concerns, and what’s to come” in his report on the Craigville work. Morrison’s report was brought to the board by Lewis Brown, the RSD’s superintendent. Morrison’s report mentioned the startup of the Craigville lift station and grinder setups but noted that “punch list line items are being established and brought to light day by day.”
Brown also noted that several customers, including Huss, would be connected on Thursday.
The Craigville items were somewhat counterbalanced, however, as Ryan Lefeld of Choice One Engineering, said the deadline for completion of the Kingsland sewer project is May of 2024.
Tuesday night’s meeting, which was delayed a day due to the Columbus Day federal holiday, also touched on the following topics:
• Leon Berning, an RSD board member who serves as the district’s treasurer, presented 17 checks to his fellow board members totaling $64,941.53 for approval.
• Brown expressed concerns about property owners installing grinder pumps on their own instead of hiring a professional that had been certified by the RSD. There was a question of whether the district would be responsible for any equipment if it’s not properly installed.
• Despite the irritation concerning the delays, a pay application for work on the Craigville project for $1,134,873 will be sent to the State Revolving Loan Fund.
• There are still “a couple” of customers in the Liberty Center and Murray areas that have still not connected, Brown said.
• Brown said he had met with area real estate agents and gave a 10-minute talk about the RSD’s progress.
daves@news-banner.com
