S’ville kicks off stimulus projects
Jim Gorman, superintendent at Schererville's wastewater treatment plant, and Schererville Clerk-Treasurer Janice Malinowski chat after a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the plant in Schererville. The plant will benefit from many projects targeted at the town's infrastructure. (Photograph by John J. Watkins/The Times.)
A ceremonial groundbreaking Monday in Schererville marked the start of several town projects that stimulus money partly is funding.
Members of the St. John Utility Board joined Schererville officials as well as contractors and engineers outside the town’s wastewater treatment plant, where the bulk of upcoming shovel-ready infrastructure projects will take place.
A preconstruction conference is scheduled today for the wastewater treatment plant upgrades, said Hal Slager, Schererville Utility Board president.
The cost of the projects will total about $13.5 million. A $2.5 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and a low-interest $6.7 million loan through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program will help defray the cost. Cash on hand combined with a $2.18 monthly sewer rate increase to Schererville sewer customers and a 20 percent contribution from St. John—which is allotted 20 percent use of the plant—also will pay for the projects.
Schererville is one of the first communities in the state to receive its stimulus and SRF funding, Schererville Town Council President Perry Ferrini said.
The upgrades to the plant will help reduce overflow into the nearby creek and will help the facility be more “green” by increasing energy efficiency, Slager said.
The upgrades and improvements include an anaerobic digester, aerobic digester, aeration tanks and head works, such as pumps. The town also will begin the second phase of the southeast side sewer interceptor project, which will reduce overflow problems in the southeast portion of the town’s sanitary system.
Improvements to the southeast side sewer first were studied in 1999, Schererville Town Manager Bob Volkmann said.
Monday’s groundbreaking was the culmination of years of discussion and planning for that project, he said.
