Sewer system problems resurface in Flora
By Susan Scholl Editor

The Flora Town Council has major decisions to make in the near future regarding the town's sanitary sewer system. Inflow and infiltration into the system keeps occurring, despite efforts to fix the problems.

Representatives from HEBFS, LLC, a Lafayette engineering firm, attended Monday night's Council meeting to go over options.

Tori E. Tripp with HE-BFS's environmental services, reminded the council that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) placed the town under a sewer connection ban in 1974. In 1992, the town was issued an agreed order by IDEM and in response to that order completed several projects to address excessive flows to the wastewater treatment plant.

She said that after undergoing a performance monitoring period, the town requested removal from the sewer ban in July 2004. Inflow and infiltration continued to cause problems and IDEM denied the request.

Tripp suggested that town officials be proactive and get a plan in place before the sewer connection ban expires in 2010. She said an initial step would be to perform a sanitary sewer evaluation study.

Bill McCarty, the town's wastewater foreman, said that he has an idea where the problems in the system exist, and it will be an expensive project to correct.

The plant's design flow capacity is 428,000 gallons a day, said McCarty, and the flow regularly exceeds that amount by 50%.

Flora School project

President Josh Ayres announced that the old Flora School project proposed by Area IV Development Corp. is on hold. He said they are unable to complete the market study at this time because need cannot be shown. That is because the Water Tower Place Senior Housing Project at Delphi is not complete and occupied. The study will be submitted again next year.

Fire department

Flora Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Scott Sisson reported that he has preliminary plans for a new fire station. He said his department has outgrown the current facility and "we need to feel there is movement on this (a new fire station)."

Ayres said that the council wants to put together a committee of two or three firemen and two or three community members who will work together and develop a plan to present to the council. Sisson agreed that that would move the process forward and said he will make the appointments to the committee.

Ayres instructed the committee to consider all possibilities, including a facility that serves more than the fire department.

Sisson said he has been researching available funding, including grants and other sources.

Sisson also said the VFD will be involved with Relay for Life this summer and will be arranging fundraisers.

Other business

Doug Abdon has accepted the town's offer of $36,500 for his property on East Columbia Street by the railroad, with stipulations. Town officials agreed to a counter offer that includes waiving back utility costs and paying for closing costs up to $300.

The recent blizzard precipitated a need to have a designated shelter area for the town. The town has no generator for the Flora Community Center, which would be the logical place for a shelter. Clerk-treasurer Joretta Tinsman was instructed to research costs and make a recommendation.

McCarty requested that the town also look into costs for an additional portable generator to help in emergencies with the lift-stations.

Two bids for the curb projects for parts of North and South Center Street were opened and taken under advisement. The bids were $147,976 from Milestone Contractors, Lafayette, and $149,608 from Leo Brown Construction Co. Inc., Logansport.

Town Marshal Paul Redmon announced that the police department will again be sponsoring its Bicycle Helmet Project for kindergarten students at Carroll Elementary School. All students are given a free bicycle helmet. The department is accepting donations to help with costs.

The marshal's report for February included: 5 arrests/misdemeanors, 11 felonies, 16 citations, 27 warnings, 72 calls for service, 4 accidents, and 2 warrants served.

Two building permits were issued in February: Jeri Boller, sunroom, and TriStar Living Inc., new home in Carriage Estates.

The council approved purchasing a John Deere mower with heavy-duty, 62-inch deck from Jackson-Lee-Pearson with a trade-in cost of $2,115.

No decision was made regarding whether or not to replace the town's bucket truck. Estimated cost will be $98,288.

Redmon, Sisson and council members all commended town employees for a job well done with snow removal in February.

The next regular meeting will be April 2 at 6 p.m. Spring trash pick-up will be April 27.