An upgrade and expansion project for an old lift station in Whiteland is making progress with the approval of a local company’s bid.
The Whiteland Town Council approved a base bid of $869,500 from Sub-Surface of Indiana, Inc. subject to a review by the town attorney on May 14 for the interstate wastewater lift station project. Other bidders included Ottenweller Contracting, Conexco, Inc., Dave O’Mara Contractor, Inc., King’s Trucking & Excavation and Striegel Design & Construction, Inc. Sub-Surface of Indiana had the lowest base bid.
The upgrade and expansion is expected to cost $618,000. More than half of the cost of the project is covered by a $325,000 grant from the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative program called READI. It was created by Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to make Indiana communities more attractive places to live and attract workforce talent.
Mohr Capital is also donating $200,000. Whiteland will cover approximately $93,000.
At a May 8 Whiteland Town Council meeting, Shaun Young, Whiteland’s street superintendent, said the lift station was from around the 70s and was starting to show signs of age. In the last five years, the station has also taken on more capacity with industrial developments pumping into it, and town employees learned many parts for it aren’t made anymore.
Council member Tim Brown said he has worked with Sub-Surface and recommends the company. However, he recused himself from the vote due to his familiarity with the company.
“I”ve worked with them on many jobs, many utility jobs … ,” Brown said at the May 14 meeting. “They’re top-notch. One good thing is it’s a local area company, so that’s nice to keep it here … they’re professional, seems like the guys keep checking into things.”
All other council members approved the company’s bid.
