Design firm seeks OK for sanitary-sewer extension

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Sanitary District board may decide today whether to allow a sanitary-sewer extension near Frontage Road, something necessary for the LifeWorks Business Park project to proceed.

Ryan Kelly, a project manager for Halladay Properties, the design firm awaiting approval for a 12-structure business development east of U.S. 421 and south of County Road 400 North, says if approved, the sewer line will be installed by the developer and maintained by the district.

Kelly is listed as one of the “public comment” speakers on the agenda for the board meeting at 1 p.m. at 1100 E. Eighth St.

“We are hoping the Sanitary District votes on the extension, and that it is approved,” Kelly said Tuesday.

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Halladay Properties has design plans for a business community on the south edge of Michigan City with no more than 12 new structures. Medical and general offices, as well as a restaurant, have been part of the designs.

The entire plan must be approved by the La Porte County Council. At a county plan commission meeting earlier this year, a few council members voiced concern over access to the development. Some pointed out the area is a traffic problem even without the new businesses.

Kelly said the immediate plan to fix that problem would be an extension to Frontage Road instead of creating a new access point off U.S. 421.

The firm also is working on “securing permits and road extension plans” while the idea is still in approval stage.

Permits for one of the buildings planned in the complex already have been obtained. The structure already is in use as a site of IU Health La Porte Hospital offices.

Firm gets OK to extend sewer line

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, August 25, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Sanitary District board on Wednesday approved Halladay Properties’ request to extend a sewer line near Frontage Road, a necessity if the La Porte County Council OKs plans the firm has to build a 12-structure business development near Interstate 94 and U.S. 421.

Ryan Kelly, Halladay Properties project manager, submitted the plans for review. The firm needed approval, Sanitary District Collection Superintendent Michael Hoffman said, because of a policy the district adopted in 2003 requiring drawings to be approved by board action prior to construction.

Hoffman recommended the board approve the plans for the sewer system designed by Haas & Associates.

“At this time, this does not include additional items such as local permits that must be approved,” he said.

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The construction will take place on the road inside Halladay Properties property that connects to Frontage Road on the east side.

“Since they want to build a road to put the sewers underneath at a future time,” Hoffman said, “we will address that again once they attain the required permits.”

In other business, the district set next month’s meeting as the public hearing for the 2012 budget, which City Controller John Schaefer will present.

Budget adoption is set to be voted on at the October meeting.

As part of the financial report, Schaefer said the annual cash flow from taxes ending July 31, 2011, is projected to be a little more than $325,000, with $277,000 collected in total profit.