The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard updates from Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson Monday evening during their regular meeting.
The Solar Project is complete with a total cost for the project $1,167,000. Davidson anticipates 40% of that cost to be recaptured in credits through the Inflation Reduction Act which will bring the cost down to approximately $700,000. The cost was split three ways between the Redevelopment Commission, Utilities and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. According to reports, monthly energy consumption has gone down by approximately 40%. Davidson is still working with NIPSCO on rebates for the amount of energy returned to the grid. The amounts in the summer months will be higher than in winter.
The new water well has been drilled at the Ledyard Water Treatment Plant; a 16 inch well has been drilled at 212 feet. The casing has been installed. The well has been developed, tested, and it’s ready for a new well vault for connections to be made. Davidson had hoped for 1150 gallons a minute; the well has surpassed that efficiency with 2,000 gallons a minute with high water quality. It should be complete and up and running by the end of the year.
Davidson updated the board on the Lead Service Line Inventory. The inventory is required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM); the team is 98% complete; with 76 lines remaining which will likely have to be dug up. The inventory report is due to IDEM by October 2024; the team is making efficient progress.
During his updated on the Flood Control Project at Plum Street and Garro St.; Davidson informed the board that he has not yet received the results from the testing for asbestos which could include floor tiles, pipe wrap, plaster and shingles in the vacant building. Once those results are received; as long as no remediation is needed the hope is to proceed in to demolition yet this year.
Davidson and Plymouth Fire Chief Steve Holm are looking in to the option of unloading some vehicles through an online auction. They are in the early stages of exploring this as a potential method for selling items; before final submission details will be provided to the board for approval.
Davidson, along with Shannon McLeod – Grant Administrator with Priority Project Resources, Inc. – presented the 2024 Water Improvements Project proposal along with details on applying for an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant in the amount of $700,000 which would supplement funding for a $2,492,270 project bringing the cost for the City of Plymouth down to $1,792,270 if approved.
The proposed project would include the following: abandoning the existing 4” water main along Jefferson Street and replace it with a new 12” water main (2880 LF), installing a new 6” water main to loop the water system near Gilmore Street and the Yellow River Crossing (335 LF), installing 470 LF of new water main to loop the water system from Lake Ave. under the railroad tracks to LaPorte St. and Plum Street, and rehabilitate the existing PIDCO Elevated Water Storage Tank which includes sandblast, repainting the interior and exterior, and some structural work.
The cost of these projects are increasing dramatically in cost; by grouping the projects and pursuing an OCRA grant the City of Plymouth might be able to mitigate financial impact. According to McLeod the grant process is highly competitive; but combining the projects enhance eligibility. With the other two city projects completely closed the City of Plymouth can apply for more OCRA funding this fall. It’s a two phase process – the proposal is due in October with the full application be due in December shortly before Christmas. Public hearings will be required before both phases. Project awards will be announced in late January or early February of 2024; bids could be put out next Spring with work to begin next Summer and possibly completed by the end of next year.
The board approved moving forward with the grant process; none opposed.
