Flora Town Council approves water rate study
Comet staff report

A special meeting of the Flora Town Council was held March 12 to rescind a motion made at the March 3 council meeting regarding the airport environmental report and to approve a water rate study.

The council voted to hire Umbaugh & Associates to do the water rate study in anticipation of raising rates.

Council president Josh Ayres said that there has not been an increase since 2002. He said the town is expecting that the water treatment plant will need new filters in the next two to three years. Expenses are projected to be $50,000.

"We don't want a rate increase, but it would be irresponsible to the Town of Flora if we let the treatment plant fall into disrepair," he said.

On March 3, the council approved $4,000 to hire ESA to do environmental work at the airport to satisfy the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The town had previously had the work done, but the proper paper work was not filed with IDEM by the company that performed the work.

A former employee of that company who now works independently said he has the data and is willing to work with IDEM to get the situation worked out before the April 13 deadline. Council member Vince Seward will see that the deadline is met.