The Chesterton
Utility has a new laboratory chief.
At the Utility
Service Board’s meeting Monday night, Superintendent Dave Ryan announced
that Leah Leimbacher began her duties earlier that day.
Leimbacher--who has
a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry--“brings a
wealth of lab experience to our Utility,” Ryan said. “I look forward to
Leah’s being a great addition to our team.”
Leimbacher succeeds
Elliott Lowe in the position, who passed away on April 20 after serving the
town 11 years.
In related news,
Ryan also announced that the Utility’s lab has once again received the
Indiana Water Environment’s Laboratory Excellence Award, which will be
presented to the Utility at the IWEA’s conference in August.
“I can’t remember a
year on this board when the lab hasn’t gotten that award,” President Larry
Brandt noted, then attributed much of that success to the late Lowe. “We owe
a lot to Elliott,” he said. “It’s always good for your lab to have a
top-notch performance.”
The Vac Truck
In other business,
Ryan reported that he continues to investigate the acquisition of a new
vacuum truck and has one more demo to review before compiling his findings
and making a recommendation to members, probably at their next meeting, Aug.
21.
To date staff has
seen three demo models in action.
Member John
Schnadenberg--wearing his hat as Street Commissioner--took a moment at the
end of the meeting to express his gratitude to the Utility for its recent
assistance in repairing a broken stormwater sewer on Wilson Street.
“It was a team
effort,” Schnadenberg said. “Both departments, we work together. It’s good
to see that.”
June in Review
In June, Chesterton
used 46.4 percent of its 3,668,000 gallon per day (gpd) allotment of the
waste treatment plant; Porter, 42.39 percent of its 851,000 gpd allotment;
the Indian Boundary Conservancy District, 45,86 percent of its 81,000 gpd
allotment; and the plant as whole, 45.65 percent of its capacity.
There were no
bypasses of wastewater into the Little Calumet River in June, which saw a
total of 2.3 inches of rain, the least amount in any month in the
year-to-date.
Last month the
Utility ran a deficit of $234,993.25 and in the year-to-date is running a
surplus of $331,565.73.