Jasper utility board advances plant land purchase, safety upgrades and staffing plans

Jasper’s Utility Service Board moved on two issues that affect how reliably Jasper can keep water and sewer service running: a fire-damaged generator at the 400 West lift station and the long-planned Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant site purchase. The board also approved staffing changes that will add management support inside Jasper Municipal Utilities.

At its meeting at City Hall, the board approved a resolution recommending the purchase of about seven acres of real property for the Northside plant project. It also retroactively approved a memorandum of understanding with the Dubois County Regional Sewer District so the Hayesville-related work can remain eligible for Indiana State Revolving Fund financing. The Northside plant has been in development for years, with city records showing repeated work on site surveys, appraisals, wetlands, water-asset planning and geotechnical investigation. Earlier planning documents tied to the project put engineering and design costs at $1,262,200 and initial project estimates at more than $18 million.

The scale of the wastewater system explains why the board treated the project as more than a land deal. Jasper’s current treatment plant has a capacity of 3.6 million gallons per day and a peak-load capacity of 7.2 million gallons. The system stretches across about 135 miles of collection lines and includes 25 major lift stations and 21 minor lift stations. The treatment plant runs 24 hours a day, with an on-call maintenance system handling after-hours problems, so the board’s action on land and funding keeps the next phase of expansion moving.

Reliability concerns were not limited to long-range planning. The board authorized staff to seek quotes for repairs or replacement after a generator at the 400 West lift station was damaged in a fire that appeared electrical in nature. That generator sits in a part of the wastewater system that matters for continuity of service if power is lost, making the damage a direct operational concern.

The board also heard updates on day-to-day utility operations. Electric Utility Manager Stan Seifert said new safety features in city electric meters include an auto-disconnect function that shuts a meter down if it exceeds temperature guidelines. The meters also send notifications when a shutdown occurs so staff can investigate. Gas and Water Manager Tim Doersam said spring hydrant flushing was nearing the halfway point and should be finished within two weeks.

Staffing changes rounded out the meeting. The board approved changes to the Utilities’ Salary Ordinance to add an Assistant Wastewater Manager position and to fill the Assistant Gas and Water Manager position. General Manager Rob Young also received approval to replace himself on the Indiana Municipal Power Agency Board of Commissioners, giving Jasper continued representation in the regional power agency as the utility system grows.