Council Must Make Risk vs Reward Decision Soon


(posted Sept 21)


Speedway Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Norm Berry remains apprehensive about allowing Merrell Bros to locate its septic de-watering plant at the waste water treatment plant. "My responsibility is to the town and to the environment," Berry said to the council at the Sept 20 workshop meeting.

The proposed agreement will allow Merrell Bros to lease 2 acres for $3,000 a year and a possible revenue stream of $25,000 to $50,000 a year for the town depending upon the amount of discharge sent through the plant. The contract is expected to be tied to the consumer price index to cover for inflation since it is a 30 year lease.

The amount to be processed ranges from five million to ten million gallons. His concern rests with the potential that the town could exceeds its IDEM mandated ammonia levels by allowing the company to discharge into the plant.

The town has recently solicited bids to fix the nitrification towers to lower the ammonia amounts. The town may have to invest close to $800,000 to fix the problem. These costs far exceed the revenue the town would make in the leasing agreement.

It is up to the council to weigh the risks and the rewards before executing the agreement. The revenue stream would be used to pay Merrell Bros for removing the town's sludge.

Berry said he would be more comfortable with project if he could assess the company an ammonia surcharge to discharge into the waste water treatment plant, but this would open the door to the possibility of assessing ammonia discharge permits to other industries.

Berry explained the town would not be getting rich from the discharge permit, probably only receiving another $200 to $300 a year. This would require an ordinance change. The ammonia surcharge is in addition to requiring an industrial discharge permit to cover the BOD-solids, grease and ammonia that would be entering the plant. Part of his recommendation also included that Merrell Bros install a flow meter so the company can self-monitor its output.

Berry had problems with the provision of the two year notice requirement if the town decided to terminate the contract, causing Merrell Bros to vacate the de-watering facility. He thought that would create too many legal entanglements to enforce if the town needed to sever ties. Berry wanted to verify with legal counsel that the sewer ordinance can shut down Merrell Bros' operations if their discharge forces the town to be out of compliance. It is up to Merrell Bros to take corrective measures. Berry said Merrell Bros is a reputable company but he wanted safeguards to protect the town because IDEM's agreed order.

Council President Bill Golay informed Wendall Walters that he is waiting to receive the cost analysis in writing to see if the town can afford to build a new $1 million street department facility at the waste water treatment plant site.

The council would like to be able to finance the project through the cumulative Capital Fund to avoid borrowing. Sharon Zishka, clerk treasurer, said the town would lose the levy amount if it is not spent.

Walters said that it would take about an estimated $300,000 to repair the current street department building, but indicated he has held off making any improvements in case the town decided to build a new facility.

The council has been contemplating moving the street department because it is located in a wellfield protection area and has wells on site that provide the town's drinking water.

Councilor Lu Hillmer said she needed to research to see if the current street department were to be torn down if a new facility could be built in its place or if wellfield protection ordinances would prevent it. The street department's relocation plan included demolition so a community center could be built at the street department's site.

The council is looking into drafting a letter to support the Speedway Transportation Board's letter to IndyGo to reroute the IndyGo bus lines from the neighborhoods onto Lynhurst Drive.
Residents are complaining about the bus speeds on the residential streets of Winton Avenue and Meadowood Drive.

Councilor Gary Raikes indicated this might be the time to look at alternative bus service other than IndyGo. He proposed looking at Speedway's own private system or competitive bus lines that would feed into IndyGo at the borders. This idea was raised two years at the Vision Committee meetings because of the growing costs of IndyGo.

In other matters, the council received Water Superintendent Mike Littlejohn's resignation effective as of November 26. Littlejohn is expected to receive his accrued sick time and vacation time until March 31. The council discussed Assistant Superintendent Steve Hurst's qualifications to be able to run the plant at least until March 31.

Berry informed the council that the assistant needs the same level of certification to run the plant as the superintendent in case he is incapacitated. Berry did not think anyone else at the water plant had the level of certification needed to assume Hurst's position. Raikes favored encouraging current employees to seek the education needed to be eligible for the position instead of hiring from an outside source.