Plymouth City Council to Discuss Water, Sewer Rate Increases

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council members are expected to discuss water and sewer rate increases when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m.

A public hearing is set to gather public comment on the matter.

During a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 30, the city council learned that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. To help bridge the gap, an ordinance outlining a one-time raise in the water rate of 12 percent to begin Jan. 1, 2018, was proposed. In addition, an ordinance detailing a three-phase wastewater rate increase was proposed. It would allow for a 10 percent increase in wastewater rates beginning Jan. 1, 2018, with another 10 percent increase on Sept. 2, 2018, and a third 10 percent increase in March of 2019.

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Plymouth City Council Considers Property as an Economic Revitalization, Target Area

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council members heard a request from Developer Scott Sivan to create the property for the housing development River Gate South as an Economic Development Target Area and Economic Revitalization Area.

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Jerry Chavez said this is the first step in a process for the ultimate request for a real property tax abatement for the project.

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Plymouth City Council Passes First Reading on Water, Sewer Rate Increase Ordinances

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council passed the proposed water and sewer rate increase ordinances on first reading Monday night.

During a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 30, the city council learned that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. To help bridge the gap, an ordinance outlining a one-time raise in the water rate of 12 percent to begin Jan. 1, 2018, was proposed. In addition, an ordinance detailing a three-phase wastewater rate increase was proposed. It would allow for a 10 percent increase in wastewater rates beginning Jan. 1, 2018, with another 10 percent increase on Sept. 2, 2018, and a third 10 percent increase in March of 2019. Continue reading →

City of Plymouth Looking to Increase Water, Sewer Rates

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council heard a proposal from Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver, and Eric Walsh from Umbaugh and Associates concerning an increase in water and wastewater rates.

Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi told MAX 98.3 FM News that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year, the city council learned that water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. Surrisi said a proposal to increase water and wastewater rates to help bridge the gap was brought before the council in a specially-called meeting Monday night. Continue reading →

City Building Renovation Project Moving Along

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The renovation project at the Plymouth City Building in its second month and things are progressing at a good pace, according to City Attorney Sean Surrisi who updated the Plymouth City Council on the progress last week.

“They’re still in the demolition phase,” reported Surrisi. “We’ve run into a couple of things. When you tear open an old building you run into things that you don’t anticipate. For the most part, we’re doing really well with the budget. They found some sort of unidentified well, or something, where they’re digging the elevator shaft. They brought the soil scientists back out and they examined it.” Continue reading →

Plymouth BOW Ratifies Bid

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Plymouth Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt asked the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members Monday night to ratify a bid presented to them at the prior meeting for street and sidewalk work.

Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi opened bids for the projects during the Oct. 11 meeting. Following the meeting Chris Marshall with the city engineer’s office reviewed them and the lowest bid provided by Walsh and Kelly was found to be within the specifications requested. Continue reading →

Plymouth, County Officials Meet with Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Officials are actively seeking industries to fill the void of outgoing companies in the Plymouth area.

Marshall County and Plymouth City officials recently met with Indiana Economic Secretary of Commerce (IEDC) Jim Schellinger, two of his top Cabinet people and the Director of the IEDC Elaine Bedel to network and make the area a priority for economic development.

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Plymouth BOW, City Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will meet tonight where Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson will present a change order for the Richter Road project. The change order should officially complete the project that includes better connectivity by looping the water connections from Baker Street down to Richter Road and then reconnecting at Jefferson and Warana. The board approved a request at the last meeting to hold a retainer of $6,230.25 upon the punchlist items and those items should now be complete.

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City of Plymouth Amends Zoning Ordinance to Include Solar Energy Systems

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A proposal to amend the zoning ordinance regarding solar energy systems for the City of Plymouth was considered by the Plymouth City Council in a meeting earlier this week. Plymouth Plan Director Ralph Booker provided a presentation, explaining what amendments would need to be completed in order for solar energy systems to be a possibility for members of the Plymouth community.

First off, a definition had to be added to the ordinance. It described a solar energy system to be any device or structural design feature whose primary purpose is to provide daylight for interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage or distribution of solar energy for space heating and cooling, electricity generation and water heating. Continue reading →

Plymouth City Council Acts on Ordinance to Vacate Allen Street

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An ordinance to vacate Allen Street came before the Plymouth City Council on second and third reading when they met Monday evening. City Attorney Sean Surrisi told council members that some changes were made to the ordinance since the first reading.

Surrisi said one revision was cleaning up a street referenced from the last vacation they did that was used as a starting point for this ordinance. He said the memorandum of understanding that will be signed by all involved parties was also revised.

The request to vacate Allen Street first arose during a city council meeting in October of last year. According to meeting minutes, owners of Milten Properties LLC, Dr. Tod Stillson and James Stone came before the council, requesting that Allen Street, which runs from Jefferson Street behind Dr. Stillson’s current office, be vacated and have ownership passed over to them since they were putting their own money into maintenance. Continue reading →

Revisions to 2018 Salary Ordinance Result in Plymouth City Council Approval

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The ordinance fixing the 2018 salaries of appointed officers and employees, as well as fire and police personnel of the City of Plymouth, was recently up for approval by the Plymouth City Council.

The salary ordinance has been a topic of concern since the end of August, when the initial proposal was rejected. A committee was formed in order to review and work on the ordinance to come up with a more suitable solution. The revisions were presented at the City Council meeting Monday evening.

The committee consisted of Council members Shiloh Fonseca, Bill Walters and Don Ecker Jr. They worked with Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver and Emyle Kruyer-Collins from Human Resources discussing alternative options and looking into the survey that was provided by the city’s consultants Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele and Associates. Continue reading →

Plymouth City Council Approves Tax Abatement for American Containers

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

When the Plymouth City Council met last night, they held a public hearing over the American Containers, Inc tax abatement. No public comments were provided so the hearing was adjourned.

During a previous meeting, the council acted on the resolution approving the location in which American Containers, Inc is positioned to be within an area designated as a Economic Revitalization Area making the company eligible for potential tax abatement.

Last night the council took the second step in the expansion process by holding the public hearing and approving the seven-year, phase in, real and personal property tax abatement.
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Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety & Plymouth City Council Meetings Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the City Council meet tonight to discuss matters impacting the community. The Board of Public Works and Safety meeting will start first at 6 p.m.

Agenda items include a request from the utility superintendent about a water main extension at State Road 17 and W. Lake Avenue as well as an executive order from the city attorney regarding 408 Pierce Street.

Other requests consist of the Chamber of Commerce seeking permission to continue with downtown trick-or-treating this year and a temporary street closing by John Montgomery. The Mayor’s Youth Council will provide a request about the “Adopt a Street” project.

The City Council will convene at 6:30 p.m. or immediately following the adjournment of the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Continue reading →