Beaver Lake work in residents’ hands
Special from WITZ AM/FM
The Jasper Utility Service Board voted to adopt the water committee’s recommendation to abandon a project to raise the water level of Beaver Lake by 11 inches.
But, the motion also included a provision to keep the bids open for the allotted 60 days to allow residents on the city lake to come up with a solution to pay for the work to raise the lake’s water level to previous levels.
After the state and federally mandated work on the new spillway was completed two years ago, the lake level was determined to be between 9 and 11 inches lower.
Utility Service Board Chairman Rick Stradtner reminded those in attendance that the engineering firm Morley & Associates reviewed the construction of the new dam to make sure everything was completed to specifications. They reported finding no discrepancies.
Two residents spoke during the utility service board’s regular meeting Monday night before the vote was taken. Residents John Montgomery and Brad Popp both addressed the board, but it was the impassioned plea by Popp that seemed to have the most impact.
He asked if the board would just give them the opportunity to work with residents to find another alternative.
[adrotate group=”16″]
The board did just that. Board Chairman Rick Stradtner made a motion to hold the bids open for the allotted 60 days as residents around the lake worked to determine how to fund the spillway and dam project. The initial bid estimates were received from two contractors. Krempp Construction bid $334,400 and Force Construction of Columbus — the company that completed the work on the spillway — bid $531,789.
In the motion, Stradtner included the option for the utility service board to loan the funds to the residents.
The motion was passed unanimously by the board.
While several on the board stated that they did not feel comfortable burdening the 8,800 ratepayers in the City of Jasper with the cost of the project, they did express an interest in finding a solution.
Even Wayne Schuetter, who was chairman of the utility service board when the project was completed, recommended they work out a solution with the residents. He reminded the board and those in attendance that Beaver Lake is a city-owned lake, and it was built as a reservoir. He stated the board should consider the 11 or so inches of water as an insurance policy; a policy in which investment would be wise.
Now, the ball is in the court of the residents to come up with a proposal to submit to the utility service board at their August 17th meeting.
“It could have been worse. It could have been better,” Popp said. “There’s definitely a reason to fight it. I think if we just sit back and wait this is going to be dead forever.”
Popp acknowledged that the ratepayers in Jasper should not have to shoulder the costs to raise the spillway. However, he wants to focus on finding a solution, not pointing the finger of blame.
Popp says that the renters could pool their money to pay for the project. Or, since the Jasper Parks & Recreation Department controls the activities on the lake, they could increase dock and boat fees to help offset the cost.
Stradtner said that the board was faced with four options after investigating the issue. The first could adopt the recommendation of the water committee and do nothing more. They could adopt the recommendation and keep the bids open to allow an alternative. They could vote to fund the project as bid. Or, finally, they could table the issue with a specific timeline to allow more examination of the issue by both sides.
The board also took the following the actions.
–Opened a quote for a meter-reading vehicle for the business office. Bob Luegers quoted a GMC Canyon for $30,841.00 with $2,500 trade-in for a net amount of $28,342.00 net; and Uebelhor & Sons quoted a Chevy Colorado for $28,622 with $5,300 on a trade-in for net amount of $23,322.00. The quotes were taken under advisement by the department.
–The board also passed two motions to vacate easements. One to vacate an alley easement at Clay and 4th Street downtown and the second for a public utility drainage easement on Brentwood near Meridian Road.
–Utilities General Manager Bud Hauersperger reported to the board that he approached three environmental engineering firms for bids to take the next steps to develop requests for proposals for the demolition or salvage of the Jasper Power Plant. The low proposal came from Cardno Environmental, the same firm that performed the environmental assessments. The bid was for $2,840.00. The document from Cardno will include plans for the demolition process from beginning to end. The board voted to approve the bid, pending review by the city attorney.
–Electric Commissioner Wayne Schuetter addressed the board regarding a statement made by the consultants working with the city and Jasper Public Library on the Hoosier Desk building. During a recent meeting, the designers proposed that the electricity utility in Jasper could potentially provide $480,000.00 to put towards the project to lower the costs of developing a cultural center with the library and Jasper Arts Department. Schuetter stated that there were no discussions with any member of the Electric Department about the funds. He said that the figure was strictly speculative on the part of the designers/consultants.
