Plan Constructiom Sewer Project 1952

Authorized to Go Ahead On Local Sewage System

Plan Construction of System For the Joint Use of Town and Academy

To Be Financed by Thirty Year Revenue Bond Issue; Contemplate No Tax Levy

An important step towards the realization of a sewage disposal system for the joint use of the town of Culver and the Culver Military Academy was taken this week when Donald Lessig and Son, sanitary engineers of Warsaw, and Marshall Kizer of Plymouth, special counsel for the project, were authorized to proceed with plans for the construction of sanitary sewers and the erection of a sewage disposal plant.

One of the most important and far reaching civic announcements in the 106-year history of this Lakeside community, the go-ahead signal came after months of study by both town and Academy officials. Approval of the financing and the preliminary construction plans was announced by local town officials following approval by the Board of Trustees of the Culver Educational Foundation.

Plans call for a sewage disposal sewage waste from more than plant large enough to handle the 500 homes and business establishments in the town of Culver, the Culver Military Academy, North Terrace, and the Maxinkuckee Inn area, A main sewer will connect with the disposal plant to located south of town running north along Main street and Lake Shore drive east along the Academy Road to Academy property near the railroad boundary.

The Academy will build a main sewer to connect at the railroad. In Culver lateral lines will run to every section of town. To the south and east of Main street, and Lake Shore Drive, a pumping station will lift the sewage to the main sewer line.

The entire cost of the project to be raised through the issuance of revenue bonds, is expected to run in the neighborhood of $375,000. Electricity is the one big item of operation expense according to the engineers.

No Tax Levy

In financing this project it is emphasized that no tax levy is contemplated. The plans call for the issuance of revenue bonds which will be spread over a thirty year period.

The cost for the home is expected to be someplace between $2.00 and $2.25 per family or user a month.

Larger users will pay on a per capita usage of water. The Academy will pay it's share in a yearly rental based on their per capita usage of water.

At a recent meeting between local officials and engineers it was explained that even under normal conditions it would ibe several months after approval was extended before actual work could be initiated. World conditions will probably retard construction.

Result of Long Study

Nearly 20 years ago the town studied the feasibility of building a sewage disposal system.

Because of other W. P. A. projects here at that time the proposal was dropped.

On June 12, 1941, a complete plan for a sewage and drainage system was approved by the Works Progress Administration in which the Federal Government was to defray 75 per cent of the estimated cost.

Before work could be started the war cancelled the project.

Early in 1949 the town board once more explored the possibilities of developing a sewage system. Using the 1941 plans, the town again retained Mr. Lessig and requested that he bring the plans up to date and submit cost estimates.

After an exhaustive study of costs it was shown that it was virtually impossible for the town to finance the project at that time.

Although the Academy has a sewage disposal system, officials there, recognizing the need of the community and in lieu of their post-war construction program, were considering further development of their own plant. The physical aspects of the problem at first appeared insurmountable. Following a survey of the situation and a close study of the various aspects officials agreed in principle to the project. - Citizen