Cloverdale wastewater project in motion

CLOVERDALE ­— Six months after town leaders were presented a plan, wastewater improvements in Cloverdale are waiting in the wings.

Water Resources Manager Eric Smith of HWC Engineering announced during the Cloverdale Town Council’s regular meeting last week that the project was deemed a priority after being submitted to the Indiana Finance Authority.

Smith first noted that funding the $8.4 million project ­— which includes connecting to Lieber State Recreation Area and treating its wastewater ­— has been projected for 2023, specifically the quarter between July and September. As such, completing the engineering is now the focus.

This said, he emphasized that bids for construction have to be obtained by then. This means the design and permits should be complete before bids can go out.

The improvements in the town itself include rehabilitating or replacing about 6,000 feet of existing sewers, a major portion of which would occur in the areas of Rabbit Run Creek and Doe Creek. About 3,500 feet of forced mains in the Stardust Hills subdivision would also be replaced.

Meanwhile, a lift station would be completely replaced and a backup generator installed at another. At the wastewater plant, improvements include installing high-fence netting, replacing an aeration tank section and a bar screen, installing a new blower and replacing the bladder tank for the recycling system.

The project also entails rehabilitating Lieber’s sewer lines and replacing manholes and three lift stations. At the same time, its wastewater plant would be decommissioned and replaced by a lift station that would pump to the town.

The Lieber portion is to be covered completely by the state through a forgivable loan. Meanwhile, the town would eventually receive revenue for treating the waste.

As to financials on the town’s side, Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners suggested tapping into its Food and Beverage Fund, as opposed to designating a bond anticipation note (BAN) due to fees and interest. She said the fund had $338,500, with about $100,000 brought in every year.

In presenting a contract to the council, Smith recommended that HWC proceed with surveying, design and securing easements. The council approved moving forward as such.

In other business:

• Maners swore in Ian Trisler as a new reserve for the Cloverdale Police Department. He works full time in the Johnson County Jail as a corrections officer and is also an Indiana National Guardsman.

• The council approved to retire K-9 Argo and replace him with a Dutch Shepherd named Baz. Cloverdale K-9 Officer Sam Fogle said Argo has allergic pneumonitis, meaning that the dog wears out quickly due to inadequate breathing.

Town Marshal Steve Hibler said the department would not “miss a beat” going from Argo to Baz, as Baz is certified and owned by Fogle. With insurance, Maners said Baz would have a separate policy being leased by the town.

• The council approved a quote for $1,600 from Fidler Tree Service to remove a tree and its stump along South Lafayette Street. Council President Larry Fidler abstained due to a conflict of interest.

• The council approved a proposal to utilize ARP-Scan to log documents pertaining to infrastructure and building plans. Moving forward, Maners said the cost would be split between the town’s water and sewer funds, with the rest coming out of professional services.

• The council read Ordinance 2022-6 outlining sewer tap fees. Town Manager Jason Hartman said the ordinance addresses issues brought up previously about requiring clay laterals to be replaced with PVC.

• The council read ordinances 2022-14 and 2022-15 to hold unrestricted and restricted funds, respectively, from a settlement the town opted into concerning opioids. No details about the nature of the settlement were said.

• Waiving the second reading, the council passed Ordinance 2022-16 to create a position for a part-time deputy marshal. The position is to be filled by former Indianapolis police officer Caitlin Browning.

• The council conducted its first reading of Ordinance 2022-17 setting town employees’ salaries for 2023. Noting that it had “a lot of red” from changes, Maners said it includes increases proposed in budget meetings, as well as changes to job titles.

• The council passed Resolution 2022-11 outlining paying off a water bond of $193,866. While a regular payment would still be made, along with a water debt service fund of $14,000 and $8,705 collected on bad debt, Maners explained that the about-$100,000 remaining would be split between a water operating fund and a water depreciation fund.

The council also heard from Lyssa McKee about a negative interaction involving a Cloverdale police officer last April. She herself did not detail the circumstances of the event, leveling that town leadership had not been aware of it except for Hibler.

McKee provided that another community member was told by Hibler that the officer had resigned, but found later that they were given a six-month suspension. It was only until the day of the meeting, she said, that the officer was removed as a reserve officer on the department’s website.

“I think the council should be aware of the image that employees and volunteers are projecting on the town,” McKee said. “I know that consequences have happened already, but I don’t think they happened until today, and that is six months after the incident happened.”

Mark Wingler came forward and said he was the officer, and that the incident occurred as a lane near his home was blocked during an event at C Bar C. He said he became upset when a derogatory name was allegedly directed at him as he confronted persons doing traffic control.

“I wanna be a good neighbor; C Bar C needs to be a good neighbor; the people who take the tickets need to be good neighbors,” Wingler said, noting that he was reprimanded by Hibler and suspended.

Fidler and the entire council joined Maners, Hartman, Hibler and Town Attorney Richard Shagley for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is set for Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Cloverdale Town Hall.