Geneva plant may receive more volume (10/04/06)

A new housing development planned between Geneva and Berne could be using Geneva's sewage treatment plant.

Ed Herman, an Adams County realtor and auctioneer, along with Mark Sullivan of Commonwealth Engineers, presented preliminary plans to councilmen Lew Wingler, Mike Schwartz, and Jim Timmons, during the council's meeting Tuesday night.

Explaining that even though the planned development, just north of Keller's Nursery along U.S. 27, is closer to Berne, Sullivan said Tuesday evening that officials from Berne did not believe its sewage treatment plant could handle the extra flow.

The proposed site, being developed as Dreamland, is expected to include 25 to 30 residential dwellings along with four commercial lots along the highway on about 15.5 acres, Herman told councilmen.

Sullivan said that he had not yet met formally with Berne officials, but he had been told by some representatives there that the plant would not be able to handle the extra 10,000 to 12,000 gallons per day.

"Berne may not be able to give up the sewer capacity," Sullivan explained.

Geneva councilmen expressed interest in bringing the proposed sewage line into Geneva, noting that it may provide an added benefit.

"I could see where this would be favorable for the town," Schwartz said. "It could help build income for the overall system. I have a lot of interest in pursuing this."

The project involves installing about 9,000 feet of sewer line, Sullivan said, about 1.8 miles.

"We wanted to plant the seed and see where it grows," he said about Tuesday's presentation.

He asked councilmen to determine what sewage treatment costs would be for residents of the development.

"The one variable is the cost of treatment," he said. "I'm going to look to you to start trying to come with a figure."

Also Tuesday night councilmen discussed at length the possibility of putting alarm systems on each of the town's 15 lift stations.

Sewage treatment plant superintendent, Jason Wilke, explained that alarms would provided security for the stations in the event of a power outage or other malfunction.

"We have 15 lift stations and they need to be monitored," Wilkie told the council.

The cost for such a purchase was estimated about $42,000 by a Fort Wayne company.

"Could someone who represents this firm come and talk to us?" Schwartz asked about the quote Wilkie presented.

"Yes," Wilkie answered.

"It's a unique system," Schwartz said, "we need competitive quotes."

Council members also approved donating $10,000 toward the feasibility study for the Rails to Trails project provided the total $46,200 for the study to be done by Commonwealth Engineers is achieved.

Schwartz and town clerk-treasurer, Doug Milligan, are members of the Rails-to-Trails board, a project that is proposed to link Berne and Geneva along the old Penn Central Railroad bed with a bicycle/walking trail.

Milligan said Adams County Commissioners had pledged $15,000 toward the project and other interested parties would be asked to make donations.

"It's do-able," Milligan said about the recreational trail.

"I'm really excited about this walking trail," Schwartz said, "and some north of the river are just as excited."

The trails committee will be seeking a Transportation Enhancement Grant from the state to assist with the project that has been touted by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Milligan said that grant dollars totaling up to $1 can be awarded through TEG.

"We have to do it quickly," he said about the grant application. "We have to apply by Jan. 1."[[In-content Ad]]