The Chesterton Utility Service Board has already signaled its willingness and readiness to go out for bid on the Ind. 49 utility corridor project.

Now the Redevelopment Commission—the municipal body actually administering the project—had made it official. At their meeting Monday night, members voted 5-0 to go out for bid as soon as the drawings and specifications have been completed by DVG Inc. and are in hand.

Town Engineer Mark O’Dell said that he’s scheduled to pick up the documents from DVG on Monday, April 30.

Town Attorney Chuck Lukmann did say that a list of easements in need of obtaining will be necessary as well but that the project can go out for bid before that list is completed.

DVG has estimated the cost of extending sanitary sewer, stormwater, water, and fiber optic infrastructure under the Indiana Toll Road, across Ind. 49, and to the town’s southernmost corporate limit at $3.6 million.

In other business, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg reported that work is well under way on the upgrade of the traffic signal at the northwest corner of the intersection of Broadway and South Calumet Road.

The old yellow pole has been replaced with a new one and covered with a decorative sheath, while the control box and battery backup unit have been placed on a pedestal in Thomas Centennial Park. “It looks a lot neater there,” Schnadenberg said.

The estimated cost of the project, covered by tax increment financing (TIF) funds: $14,295.

Meanwhile, Schnadenberg reported that, as soon as the asphalt plants are up and running, he will turn his attention to a brace of paving projects in the TIF district: the re-surfacing of Plaza Drive and of Council Drive.

At its last meeting, the commission approved using an estimated $69,100 in TIF funds to pave Council Drive and $78,000 to pave Plaza Drive. The prices include milling, two surface coats, and striping.

Schnadenberg said that he hopes to do the work in May.

Members voted 5-0 to approve the single claim submitted: $328.71 from Midwestern Electric Inc., for work done on the upgrade of the traffic signal at Broadway and South Calumet Road.

Posted 4/24/2012