The Greentown Grapevine – 2000-10, 07:10

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October 2000
Grapevine
Volume 7, Issue 10 66ap aper - for . the people"
Greentown's Wastewater
Upgrade Nearly Complete
Bill Ross, Greentown Wastewater Superintendent, is dwarfed by the
size of the new surge tank. The tank is expected to be operational the
week of October 1.
The words " wastewater" and
" sewage" usually bring to mind nasty
smells and a place generally to be
avoided. Greentown's wastewater
plant, located on the east bank of
Wildcat Creek and west of the new
Eastern baseball field, is attractive in.
appearance and has no unpleasant
smells. Bob Armstrong, consultant oq
the upgrade, is proud of that fact. He
says not all community plants can
make that claim.
The Indiana Department of
Environmental Management found that
Greentown's plant was: at times of
heavy rainfall, unable to process all
that came to the plant, and therefore
raw sewage was sometimes emptying
into the Wildcat. IDEM put
Greentown under a ban against any
new construction without a previous
sewer tap until the problem was
remedied. The solution recowended
was two- fold. In some sections of
town new sewers were installed to
separate sanitary and storm waters. At
the plant, modifications were made
including the installation of a surge
tank. Three new pumps with larger
Photo by R. Jenkins
pumping capacity were installed at the
point where sewage enters the plant.
At this point a screen sorts out- the'
solids, which are picked up by Waste
Management. The liquid goes to the
surge tank. This tank, 61 ft. 6 in. in
diameter and 19 ft. 4 in. high, holds
420,000 gallons with 40,000 gallons
usable. The surge tank, being so large,
can regulate the process during heavy
rain, allowing some inffluent to go on
to the oxidation ditch and beyond to
the polishing ponds while ' holding
some to release after the water level
has gone down.
The initial cost of the work on the
sewers andinanholes was $ 382,570 00
The initial cost of the modifications at
the plant and the surge tank were
$ 610,000.00 No increase in property
tax will result from the project. A
Department of Commerce grant and a
20 year state revolving hnd loan were
obtained to pay for the project. The
loan will be paid by an increase in
sewage rates, which went into effect
early ths year. Those rates will be
reviewed every two years to assure that
they are on target.
PumD Fest Enjoyed
by Many
Greentown Pump Fest vendor chairman, Dave Turner, estimates the attendance
at the 2nd annual^ Pump Fest at between 800 and 1,000. A variety of activities
were provided during the one- day event. Especially gratifying to the chairman,
Rachel Jenluns, was the large number of community inembers who had a part in
the festival. Next year's Pump Fest will be September 15, 2001.
Proudly it waves. The Lowell E, SymQns American Legion Post # 317 unveiled
this mural in a ceremony September 16, 2000. Clyde Ragan, chairman of the
mural project said, " This design is a 365 day- a- year reminder to all of us of what
we have in freedom in America. This design is tied to the Avenue of Flags
which the Legion raises during patriotic holidays."
Photo by Rachel Jenkins
Can you bake a cherry pie? There were no cherry pies at the pie baking
contest last year. Mary Speidel entered a cherry pie this year and won the
category. Pam Carpenter was a double winner with her apple pie and black
raspberry pie. The black raspberry pie was declared the Grand Champion Pie.
This also makes Pam a double champion winner, as her apple pie was grand
champion last year. Pictured above are Pam and Mary.
Photo by Sarah Cotton