A public-comment period has opened up for a State Revolving Loan project to build new infrastructure for drinking-water improvements at the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.
Nearly $6.4 million out of the State Revolving Fund is being sought by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to build and make several improvements to drinking water through the construction of new wells, a treatment facility and the extension of water lines.
The money from the revolving fund is in the form of a 20-year loan, and some of the costs eventually could be added to monthly user rates.
“Loans can be repaid in several different ways,” said Sarah Hudson, drinking-water program administrator for the state revolving fund loan program. “Generally, user rates are adjusted to repay the debt.”
However, at this point in the process, the loan has not been secured and when the loan closes — which is a couple weeks away, Hudson said — a decision will be made on how the money will be repaid.
No residential user rates will need to be adjusted to repay the loan and just a handful of industrial customers will be affected — about 45 — according to John Davis, deputy director for DNR.
The new drinking-water infrastructure will extend through River Ridge Commerce Center to about 40 customers south of Waterline Road in Jeffersonville and five customers north of Waterline Road in Charlestown, said a report from the revolving loan fund.
DNR currently owns the waterworks — for which they contract services out through Aqua One — that serves River Ridge.
An environmental assessment has been completed for well construction and a public comment period runs through Nov. 27. After that closes, construction could begin.
“It is our preliminary finding that the construction and operation of the proposed facilities will result in no significant adverse environmental impact,” the report says.
The limited environmental impact that the report cited was temporary ramifications from pollution during initial construction.
The first work consists of 18,000 feet of new water main; a 3,000-gallon-per-minute booster station; a 750,000-gallon groundwater tank; a new 2-million-gallon-per-day iron and manganese removal water treatment plant; and three 700-gallon-per-minute tubular groundwater wells.
According to the report, potential expansion could include adding another seven wells extending toward Longview Beach subdivision.
However, the former ammunition plant still maintains seven Ranney wells — built when the ammunition plan was originally constructed — that could provide water to the surrounding areas.
One of the Ranney wells is being kept as part of infrastructure on the project, but no plan is in place to use the other wells.
“While the systems have been maintained and repaired, there have been no improvements to [the Ranney wells] in over 40 years. The facilities are in a deteriorated condition and need replacement to meet regulatory drinking-water standards,” the report says.
While the wells are not in the plan for this portion of the project, they may be if expansion occurs.
“We have looked at refurbishing those [Ranney wells], but not in this project,” Davis said. “We think they will be useful down the road if the demand increases.”
The Ranney wells maintain a pumping capacity of about 70 million gallons per day and are ideal when a high volume of water is needed. Using all the wells could increase capacity anywhere between 40 million to 100 million gallons per day, Davis said.
“Ultimately, we want to get the maximum amount of water out that we can, but still have a healthy aquifer,” he said. “Actual analysis of the whole aquifer is a thing that will evolve over time.”
Right now, the demand is not present and there is a concern of over-pumping the aquifer. The only other alternative proposed in supplying customers throughout River Ridge and near the former ammunition plant was a no-action plan.
River Ridge is a fast-expanding industrial park.
“The no-action alternative would not address the deteriorating water facilities or the needs of the River Ridge Commerce Center over the next 20 years,” the report said. “The no-action alternative was rejected in favor of the selected plan to upgrade the system.”
The approval date for the project is Nov. 27 and if the plan goes forward, construction could be wrapped up by fall 2010, Davis said.
MORE INFORMATION:
SO YOU KNOW
• ADDRESS: Comments regarding the State Revolving Loan Program should be send to: Max Henschen, senior environmental manager, State Revolving Fund, 100 N. Senate Ave., IGCN 1275, Indianapolis, IN, 46204
• PHONE: 317-232-8623
• E-MAIL: mhensche@ifa.in.gov
• DEADLINE: Comments must be received by Nov. 27
***************************
Cost of improvements
Construction costs:
• Three 700-gallon-per-minute wells — $478,000
• 2-million-gallon-per-day treatment plant — $2,625,000
• Water-transmission line — $1,016,000
• 750,000 gallon ground storage tank — $546,000
• 3,000-gallon-per-minute booster station — $480,000
• Existing well demolition — $70,000
Contingency costs:
$520,000
Subtotal — $5,735,000
Nonconstruction costs:
• Bond and legal — $65,000.
• Design and construction engineering — $570,000
• Archeological and geotechnical report — $15,000
Subtotal — $650,000
Total estimated cost $6,385,000
Business/Money
Fresh water, fresh costs for Clark County
Proposed drinking-water improvements up for public comment
- Business/Money
-
-
River View gets a new option
As for progress, Bobo said he met with two banks Tuesday prior to the meeting. He added there’s been interest in financing the project from national lenders including U.S. Bank.
Additionally, Bobo said his team has meet with national investors as another source to fund the project and believes Mainland Properties could soon gain financial partners for River View. -
Bridges project specifics emerging
Valentine outlined that incentives will be part of Kentucky’s contract with the winning bidder.
He explained that once construction begins, the expected cost of construction per day will total about $80,000 and the contractor can earn incentives for finishing early and penalties for finishing late. A completion date is set for June 30, 2018. -
Spring Street Hill Road repair to begin around June 1
Councilman Bob Caesar, who sponsored the council measure and is a Silver Hills resident, said the reopening of Spring Street Hill road will be a “big deal” for the community.
“We just wanted to make sure this was done once and done right,” he said. -
TARC OKs rate increases
Contrary to its monetary situation, the amount of people riding the public transit system has increased about 10 percent, Barker said.
But the transportation service had not raised its fares, aside from express routes, in four years. -
Workshops on windows set for Thursday
Instructor Jack P. Patchin of Ol’ House Experts in Madison has more than 30 years of experience in construction and restoration. Patchin has restored wood windows for homes, barns, and outbuildings.
-
A bit less jump at the pump
Recent developments in the economic crisis in Greece and an apparent slowdown in China’s economy could be important to summer’s gasoline prices.
-
Jeffersonville budget cuts move forward
The action is not final, as officially the council has only approved a resolution instructing the city’s financial officer to advertise the cuts.
-
Corden Porter purchase tabled again
The council expressed other concerns, including the potential for asbestos in the building, the costs to cover utility payments and the costs to renovate the building.
-
Road work ahead: Projects under way in New Albany
The city earmarked about $600,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant funds to improve and install sidewalks. The project list, which has to focus on inner city areas because of CDBG regulations, is nearly finished, Rosenbarger said.
-
State takeover of failing schools meets resistance
Under the law, the state can step in and turn the failing school over to a private operator.
Seven schools in Indiana located in high-poverty school districts in Gary and Indianapolis are set to be taken over this coming school year. - More Business/Money Headlines
-
River View gets a new option



