Sewer work to begin next week (06/18/07)

Construction of a sewer line to connect Poet Biorefining with the Portland Wastewater Treatment Plant should begin next Monday.

Jay County Commissioners met this morning with Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, city attorney Bill Hinkle, county engineer Dan Watson, treatment plant superintendent Bob Brelsford, and representatives of Poet to make sure all the legal and engineering paperwork on the project is in order.

"We just want to make sure we're covering all the bases," Hosier said this morning.

Poet has already completed its work on the line, connecting the plant to a point on the other side of the Salamonie River near the dead end of county road 150 South.

LICA Construction will begin work next week on a line and lift station to take wastewater the rest of the way to the plant. That work will be paid for through the TIF (tax increment financing) district established at the ethanol plant site.

Company officials said this morning the wastewater will be ordinary sewage and will not involve discharge from the ethanol production process.

A legal agreement between Poet and the county is still undergoing changes but should be ready for signing on July 9. It will go to the Jay County Council for approval on July 11.

Hinkle will draft an agreement between the city and the county for treating the wastewater.

"We've been working with Bob (Brelsford)," Watson said, to make sure the finished project meets city specifications.

"The pumps that Poet will have in place are acceptable," Hosier said.

Eventually, the county is expected to give the finished sewer line and lift station to the city.[[In-content Ad]]