Unique technique to keep businesses open during Huntingburg water main repairs

The City of Huntingburg will begin work on the 120-year-old water main under Fourth Street in April.

Rather than digging up the old water main as the work is traditionally completed, this project will use a “cured-in-place” technique that will cause less disruption for the city’s downtown district and a portion of Jackson Street.

Water service will be diverted from the aged line prior to work beginning. Then the line will be cleaned and relined. The old line will remain in place with the new line inside it.

The Huntingburg Common Council chose Fer-Pal Infrastructure of Taylor, Mich. to complete the project. Their bid of $694,445.00 was the lowest of the two bids receive. Midwest Engineering is overseeing the project.

Mayor Denny Spinner said that the cost comparison between using the cured-in-place procedure and digging up the entire street is essentially the same. The benefit of the new technology allows for minimal disruption of businesses and traffic along 4th Street as well as the shorter timeframe required to complete the project.

“There will be some inconvenience during this time, but the amount will be minimized by the nature of this project,” Spinner said after the meeting.

He added that the city could use the process again in future projects and other cities are contacting him to find out more about the project.

The starting date for the project is slated for some time after April 16th and should last between 45 and 60 days.

The council also took the following actions at Tuesday’s meeting:

-Heard from Huntingburg Planning Director Paul Lake that plans are being completed for the entrance road into the new Hunters Crossing subdivision. It will connect Chestnut to the new park in the development.

-Passed an agreement with Boxer Girl, LLC to provide up to $500,000 from tax incement finance (TIF) district funds towards the construction of Stellar Way. The remaining costs above that will be shouldered by Boxer Girl.

-Additionally, Boxer Girl has already performed the engineering for the street and has agreed to allow the Huntingburg City Street Department to oversee the project to make sure it meets specs and conforms to city ordinances.

-Passed an approval to purchase a digger truck for the energy department in the amount of $224,590.00 from Altec Industries of Birmingham, Ala. The customized utility truck will be ordered immediately and will take 10 months to build for the city. The existing one lasted 19 years.

-Heard an update from newly appointed Water Superintendent Gregg Miller about his work with City Attorney Phil Schneider to draft a non-liability agreement for flushing private fire hydrants in the city. Companies like OFS Brands as well as the school corporation have private fire hydrants — there are about 15 in the city. The agreement Miller and Schneider are working on would protect the city from liability if the private hydrants had an issue when they were flushed by the owners but still allow the city to flush the hydrants on their regular schedule. Under the contract, the city could also provide repairs to the private hydrants at the expence of the owners.