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Monday, April 14 2008 |
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff writer
The Columbia City Board of Works was briefed Friday morning on the status of the Hooper House on North Chauncey Street when Todd Zeiger, director of the northern office of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana told the members of the organization’s progress.
The effort to save the house, a brick structure which has set vacant for years, has involved a local group, People Preserving History. The house was donated to the organization, which is fixing up the building with the intent of selling it and keeping it on the tax rolls.
Zeiger explained that the house had been donated to People Preserving History and that a loan had been secured for remodeling and rehabilitation.
“I think we’re really on track,” he said.
Paul Hayden, community preservation specialist for Historic Landmarks, said there were many code violations in the house but that the effort to retain the historic nature of the building was proceeding.
“We’re sifting through bids right now,” he said. “Some minor work has started.”
That work includes removing the plywood that had covered the windows, some of the glass has been replaced, and tuck pointing has begun.
“One of the basement walls has shifted,” Hayden said, and added that the work will include adding a small portico, exterior painting, tuck pointing and general carpentry.
“We’re very pleased,” Hayden said, adding that the work will be “substantially” completed in about two months.
Zeiger said, “The budget numbers are coming back very good.”
The board also discussed the city’s sewage adjustment policy. Mayor Jim Fleck said the goal was not to be punitive but to keep people responsible for their sewer usage.
“What we’re finding is circumstances when the policy is just not adequate,” he said.
The current policy allows for a once-a-year adjustment if the water did not go into the sewer, if the leak was not detectable, if the usage was not intentional (filling a pool or watering) or if the property owner has not filed for a sewer adjustment in the last 12 months.
Rosie Coyle, the city clerk-treasurer, said she has had “numerous” customers requesting adjustments recently.
Councilman Walt Crowder said, “People understand they owe us for water. I have seen the pain with people crying because they have to choose between paying their utility bill or putting food on the table. I have a challenge to review (the policy) and work with people.”
The proposal considered would be to require customers to pay the average of the past 12 months plus 25 percent.
“This is a work in progress,” Crowder said.
In other business Friday morning, Kelly Cearbaugh of the city’s street department said the department has mulch ready to be picked up in Morsches Park. Residents can get it on their own or wait until April 26 when there will be a city crew to help load from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Limb pickup for April has been completed, but it will be offered again the weeks of May 5, June 9, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8 and Oct. 6.
The board opened bids on a two-ton street truck and took them under advisement. The lowest bid was $52,019, including a $10,000 allowance for a trade-in.
The board opened two bids for curbs and sidewalks on Walnut Street, with the lowest bid at $34,275.
The board voted to pay bills in the amount of $22,705 to Donohue and Associates for the Blue River interceptor sewer project; $78,360 to Siemens Water Technologies for partial payment toward the total of $522,400 for a digester cover at the water pollution control facility; and $280,993 to Niblock Excavating for the interceptor sewer project, which will cost a total of $3.5 million.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, April 15 2008 )
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