Brownfields. Another story today about the grants Indiana communities will receive from US EPA for brownfields cleanup, this one in the South Bend Tribune. Some quotes:
SOUTH BEND -- The city has received $650,000 in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency that will pay for the cleanup of several brownfield sites around the city.Stormwater. Another story about an Indiana community trying to cope with stormwater requirements; today it is Porter in NW Indiana. Some quotes:Mayor Stephen J. Luecke said the grants come as good news to a city that is trying to eliminate brownfield sites for future economic development. * * * Andy Laurent, an economic development specialist for the city, said the city applied for four grants last fall and was awarded three.
South Bend is one of only three cities in the state to receive the grants. Franklin and New Albany are the others.
An unfunded federal mandate requires Porter and other municipalities across the state to create a system to regulate stormwater runoff and pollutants that might be in it, in order to meet requirements of the federal Clean Water Act of the early 1970s. The sewer system, which would not be combined with the sanitary sewer system, is referred to as an MS4, or municipal separate storm sewer system program.More on sewers. The Terre Haute Tribune Star reports today on sewer rate increases:Indianapolis representatives of the engineering services company Amec told the stormwater board that public involvement and education would need to be part of a successful plan. Kevin Kirk told the board it was important that any ordinance regulating stormwater be tailored to the needs of Porter and that the community have some say in the ordinance.
Douglas Noel advised exploring funding sources other than relying on general fund revenues, which he called an unstable source. Setting up a stormwater utility was considered the most equitable way of paying for a system, he said. Stormwater utility fees for a town of Porter's size, he estimated, could range between $2 and $12 per capita.
Service charges were not the only source of revenue for a system, he said, and he recommended planning in partnership with other communities that also must establish MS4 programs. Noel cautioned the board to keep in mind long-term maintenance and the costs associated with it while crafting a plan.
The town will have until November 2008 to establish a program and come into compliance with the federal regulations. It will be the stormwater board's responsibility to establish fees for the system and to ensure compliance.
If the council approves the measure as it stands, bills would increase by 25 percent retroactive to July 1 of this year, and by slightly more than 100 percent on Jan. 1. The increase would bring in about $5 million in new revenue for the sanitary district.Landfills. Another story about the proposed Valpo landfills:Terre Haute Mayor Kevin Burke said the move is justified based on the needs of the city's aging sanitary sewer system.
"We're in a very urgent need of repair and upgrade," he said. "We have a wastewater treatment plant that needs to be replaced right now because we have not maintained it. If people have a problem with me saying that, go take a tour."
Burke said that after looking at the existing treatment plant, its capacity and age, he estimates a cost of $60 million to renovate it. A new plant, projected to cost $100 million, would have the advantages of being in a different location, having a greater treatment capacity and can lower the cost of changes to the system mandated by the state and federal government to eliminate combined sewer overflows. * * *
Terre Haute has many combined sewers -- ones that channel both sanitary sewage and storm drainage. During normal use, none of the sanitary sewage drains into the river, but during periods of heavier rainfall, both drain straight into the Wabash River.
State and federal rules mandate reduction in the amount of sanitary sewage that drains directly into the river from Terre Haute. The city's plan, sent to Indiana Department of Environmental Management in April 2002, has not received complete approval from the state, said City Engineer Pat Goodwin.
VALPARAISO -- Last month's unfavorable court ruling did not bring an end to plans for a 354-acre landfill in Porter Township. Those behind the proposal plan to return to court Friday to seek permission to appeal the ruling, said Glenn Sechen, the group's Chicago-based attorney.New ordinance sets minimum standards for owners to care for their property. Some quotes from this story in the Munster Times about Highland adopting a home maintenance law:
HIGHLAND -- Promising to work with residents, the Town Council has passed a law that will target neighborhood eyesores."This was really much needed," said Councilman Bernie Zemen, D-1st, of the Property Maintenance Code, which establishes minimum requirements for people to maintain their property. * * *
Residents have complained about eyesores such as unfinished remodeling projects, deteriorating roofs, gutters, peeling paint, broken windows and bad siding, Councilman Joseph Wszolek, R-4th, said Wednesday. "This code applies to all properties throughout Highland in all zoning districts," he said. * * * [T]he intention is "to be proactive in resolving deteriorating conditions throughout the town."
Building Commissioner Ken Mika has expressed great frustration over his inability to enforce minimum upkeep of properties. After researching the issue, the council patterned the ordinance after a similar one in downstate Bloomington, Wszolek said. Mika also reviewed the ordinance to ensure that it conforms to state and federal building and fire codes, Wszolek said.