(BEDFORD) – Michelle Carrico of Southern Indiana Development Corporation held a public hearing during the Lawrence County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning for the public to speak for or against a new wastewater treatment plant in the Judah area.
A $600,000 grant was applied for and awarded through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs on behalf of the South-Central Regional Sewer District.
The current wastewater treatment plant was built in the mid 1970’s and serves 117 residents and area businesses in the Briarwood and Judah area. Officials stated that this utility service needs updated.
The project will cost $750,000. The sewer district is responsible for their portion of the cost for the project ($150,000) which will be paid from wastewater funds.
The project is currently in the engineering phase. Bids will be sought in February with construction to begin in March or April of 2021. The hope is to complete the project by September 2021.
In other business:
The commissioners approved a request by Clerk Billie Tumey to apply for a CARES Grant to cover election expenses over what was budgeted due to COVID-19. Tumey applied for $18,272.
The commissioners approved to provide three fire extinguishers for the former WorkOne building.
The commissioners voted to have Nelbub release liens for homes that were in the owner/occupied rehabilitation housing project.
Highway Superintendent David Holmes says crews are working on culvert replacements and cutting brush.
Road striping has been completed on Tunnelton and Vinegar Hill roads.
Work continues on the Bridge 150 on Mill Creek Road. Officials just learned they can not place bridge piers in the railroad right of way. “It is too early to tell what will happen, but the engineer is working with the railroad to come up with a solution,” Holmes added.
Holmes has applied for $1.5 million in federal aid for Bridge 172 on Slaughter House Road.
Bridge 107 on Armstrong Station Road is now open. The bridge is posted at 15 tons. New signs will be in place soon.
Holmes told the commissioners the design plans for Bridge 62 on Huron Williams Road and Bridge 124 on Stonington Road will be in at the next commissioners meeting on December 8th.
Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer reported she continues to monitor local COVID-19 numbers. “We are attempting to monitor and anticipate what comes next,” she said.
The commissioners also opened a proposal from AT&T for call handling equipment. That proposal was taken under advisement.
