LAPEL — Lapel has created a redevelopment council and conducted a public meeting for the town’s master plan to improve its water systems during a recent council meeting.
Mike Kleinpeter of Kleinpeter Consulting Group spoke during the public hearing and discussed the town’s master plan for improving the town’s systems for storm, waste and drinking water.
The town paid for the study mostly with grant funds from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) at a cost of $50,000; the town is paying $5,660 of the costs.
OCRA leaders have approved the master plan with a list of priorities under consideration for the waste water system, including replacing iron teeth and installing a cleaning system, preventing algae growth in areas and adding covering to reduce light.
They also want to work on lift station safety improvements and make general electrical improvements, as well as have a sewer relocation at School and 12th streets, because a sanitary sewer runs through a storm sewer at the location.
As for fixes to the drinking water system, the town would like to renovate the Ford Street well, upgrade water treatment plant equipment and add a dehumidifier, repair an elevated storage tank, clear silt buildup, deal with rust issues and replace asbestos cement mains after they’ve been located.
Town leaders also want to work on a loop water system — it currently dead-ends — and work on the water main at Fishersburg, by adding a 12-inch water main with eight-inch branches. There are also plans for a new well construction.
As for the storm water system, leaders want to address problem areas at Third and John streets, Central and Fifth, Sixth, 13th and Eerie, along with a few other areas that may just need bigger pipe.
Now that the town has a plan, it can apply for an OCRA grant to help fix some of the issues. Most of those are matching grants, with the town being responsible for the 25 percent of the total.
On another infrastructure-related issue, the town council voted to create a Lapel Redevelopment Committee.
The committee initially will be composed of the town council members but later will include other residents.
The initial purpose of the committee is to look at establishing tax increment financing (TIF) districts to bring additional property tax revenue to the town to pay for needed infrastructure work.
By using a TIF district, town officials can highlight areas they expect to see growth, such as near the State Road 13 corridor, and capture future property taxes to help fund development there.
Town officials wanted to make sure area residents understand TIF districts will not be established with area homeowners; such financing applies only to businesses and does not raise anyone’s personal property taxes.
In other business, the council discussed Pleasant View Apartments.
Gary Shuck of the planning commission informed the council of a change in plans for the apartment project, which is under construction.
There now likely will be four 2-inch water meters on the property and not a single meter in the easement as originally planned.
There was some discussion about whether the town should be responsible for repairing any damage to areas on the property if it must dig up the meters.
Leaders plan to ask apartment personnel for legal documents spelling out who is responsible with regard to the location of the meters.
Also, the council approved spending $3,000 to loop a gas line near County Road 300 South, at 11th and Vine streets.
Members also approved buying a second gas locator tool for $4,000; the current locator is broken and needs repair, which the town plans to do.
