By DAVE SCHULTZ
Members of the Bluffton Common Council made it official Tuesday — they signed contracts with two companies that will improve the city’s wastewater treatment plant and line manholes and collection system pipes.
The city qualified for grants and loans to get the work done and closing on the financial package from the Indiana Finance Authority and the State Revolving Fund was approved last week. That cleared the way for Tuesday’s formal approval of the projects.
“The closing with the SRF is now behind us,” said Casey Erwin of DLZ, who has been advising the city on the effort to improve its wastewater infrastructure.
The work on the wastewater treatment plant carries a price tag of just under $31.9 million. The James S. Jackson Co. LLC of Bluffton will do the work.
The lining of the manholes and collection system pipe will be done by Interline Solutions LLC of Orleans, Ind. The date of substantial completion for the wastewater plant is expected to be May 25, 2025, and the date of substantial completion for the pipe and manhole linings is expected to be Aug. 28, 2024.
The work was first approved by the members of the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety — Mayor John Whicker, Scott Mentzer, and Josh Hunt. In so doing, the board members recommended the agreements to the Bluffton Common Council.
When the council met, the five members — Chandler Gerber, Rick Elwell, Janella Stronczek, Hunt, and Mentzer — also approved the contracts.
daves@news-banner.com
