Laserfiche WebLink
(--)CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> dollars ($50). So, it's a reduced cost share program. We're receiving applications until August 9th <br /> . <br /> So, if you know people who are looking for those, we still have some available. <br /> He continued, We installed a number of traffic calming measures, including speed humps on <br /> Longfellow Avenue and then the two (2) that are going in on Riverside Drive right now. I'm not <br /> sure if they got in today or not, but I know they're out there working on them. The yard waste <br /> program participation has increased this year. We've gone from about fifty-one percent (51%) <br /> participation last year to about sixty percent (60%) this year. On Solid Waste, part of our costs <br /> going up was due to truck maintenance. We had a significant increase in our truck maintenance <br /> costs, and part of that was due to going out to the landfill and the conditions at the landfill. So, we <br /> made a deal with Green Tech to take trash there, and it's been able to get our costs down quite a <br /> bit on the maintenance side. So, about $90,000 this year compared to last year on our truck <br /> maintenance, which is good news. We're also doing some rebranding on the Solid Waste trucks. <br /> Solid Waste is one (1) of those departments where you think that it probably wouldn't be that <br /> innovative, but in actuality, with the computers they have in the trucks, and the arms, and the fact <br /> that all of our trucks are actually fueled by South Bend poop. We take the wastewater and digest <br /> it in the digester and create methane, and then that's cleaned and put right back into the trucks. So, <br /> they're driving around on a renewable, cleaner burning fuel. So, we're going to do some branding <br /> on the side of those trucks that you should see later this year. <br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka arrived at the meeting at 5:19 p.m. <br /> Mr. Horvath went on, Then we continue to make a number of capital investments on both the <br /> Waste Water and Water Works side. Again,thank you to the Council for your support in the water <br /> rate increase which has allowed us to do some very badly needed upgrades in capital where we've <br /> been able to refurbish some high-service pumps, and replace motors and pumps at booster stations <br /> and other locations. So, in addition to quite a bit of work that we're doing on well fields with TIF <br /> dollars, we're getting quite a bit done through that capital program with the rate increase. We <br /> improved gates out at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. On the Water side, we also started a <br /> comprehensive fire hydrant inspection program.We're about 4,000 through of our 5,000 hydrants. <br /> So, they go through and they're testing every hydrant to make sure they're going to work so that <br /> when a fire truck pulls up,we're sure that thing is going to turn on.And this will help tremendously <br /> with our fire insurance rating. So, we're hoping to get the highest fire insurance rating, which will <br /> lower everyone's insurance premiums on the fire side. <br /> He continued, The new customer service and billing software was purchased, and we're in the <br /> midst of working through that.That's through Quest SNS. So,that will be enhanced ability for our <br /> customer service and billing operations for all of our enterprise funds. We're moving forward with <br /> the greenhouse gas inventories submitted to Global Covenant of Mayors, and the Climate Action <br /> Plan reports that were due. The AmeriCorps Grant is continuing to move forward. Our Green <br /> Corps Program has been very successful. We're very excited to say, we were funded for a second <br /> (2nd)year.And we've got a twenty percent(20%)increase in State funding in the second(2nd)year. <br /> So,they were happy with what our program is doing. They've served fifty(50)homes since April. <br /> They'll be out doing a number of additional homes this summer,doing energy efficiency and water <br /> efficiency stuff in homes. In addition to that, we've got members serving at Unity Gardens and <br /> another City department is helping them out with needs as well. With that program,we brought in <br /> an additional $15,000 in home repair grant funds. We've been offering support for community <br /> events. The final thing we've done is completed the design and location of way-finding signage in <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601,p 574.235.9221.f 574 235.9173 1 1 1 D574.235 5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 5 <br />