04-26-37 Council Meeting Minutes

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Bend to take steps within the near:= future to correct this pollution prac- tice, should the city of South Bend undertake the project of building a sewage disposal system at this time? Second: If R sewerage disposal system, such as designed by Burns & MacDonald, Could be built within the amount of approximately Three Million Dollars ($3,000,C00), as estimated by them, should the city of South Bend under- take the project of building a sewerage disposal systet at this time? Third: If the Public Works Administretion is still aiding in the way of Federal grants up to an amount of forty - five per, cent- (4 %) of the total cost of the construction of sewerage disposal systems; should the city of South Bend undertake the building of a sewerage disposal system -at this time? The above three major questions, along with other less prominent questions but nevertheless no less important, were assigned by the City Council to the General Qitizens' Sewerage Disposal Committee for study. Inconformity to the instructions by the City Council and the City Administration, the General Citizens' Sererape Disposal Committee was organized as follows: a general Executive.Committee end ter sub- committees. The Executive Committee assigned certain phases of the study to each of the ten sub- committees with instructions to report their findings back to the Executive Committee. In the main the reports of the Sub - Committees are incomplete. These reports do reveal, however, that the Committees are divided in their position on the subject of the advisability of the building of a sewerage disposal system for the City of South Bend at this time. However, reports -as affecting the three riajor questions of the assignment are comprehensive and positive,in Phases of their findiings. THE LEGAL SUB - COMMITTEE FINDINGS By act of legislation in 1933, and that augmented by legislation in 1935, the question of stream pollution and sanitation was placed -under the Departrrrent of Commerce and Industry. The Sub - Committee learns through the- statutes-created by these two- sessions -of the legislature of the periods given- that it is within the power of the Department of Commerce- and Industry to make an- analysis of the condition and study the extent- of pollution created by the sewerage dis- posel now diverted -into the St. Joseph River. The Department in charge of the study of streams.! pollution intends to make a complete survey of the condition of the St. Joseph River in its flow through Indiana. This survey and analysis, the Sub- Committee is- informed, 'will be made not Inter than the middle- of .1938. If the Department finds a - condit ion of pollution existent in the St. Joseph River which does not comply - with -the- requirements of the sanitation laws of the State, action will be instituted against the municipalities causing this pollution. The laws are fortified by time -limit provisions. THE TECHNICAL & ENGINEERING_SUB *COMMITTEE FINDINGS The sub•- Committee is divided-on the subject of the adequacy of +he proposed sewerage disposei project as submitted In the proposal ae.furnished -by the City Administration for its-study. The _Committee: 1a not in agreement -on the likelibood that a satisfactory or` ade uste- seweree disposal system could be built for South Bend within the three million dollar ?$3,000,00n)' estim6te. THE FEDERAL GRANT SUB - COMMITTEE FINDINGS The study for the building of a sewerage disposal system for the City of South Bend-wea pr°e -- dicsted on the possibility of a. Federal grant- of money through the Public Works Administration up to 45% of the total cost of the construction. The Sub- Committee has been diligent in its efforts to ascertain the possibility of receiving this aid for: South Bend in this proposed project. The report reveals that the City of South Bend is too late in getting its proposal be- fore the Public "forks Administration. The report further reveals that with the return of prosp- erity and the disposition on the part of the Federal Administration to balance the National Budget during the next year, thereis a gradual dismantling of the Public Works Administration. There ere in excess of 2,900 approved projects awaiting PUPA allotments, with inadequate appro- priations to care for these already approved projects. Without recommendation, the-General Citizens' Sewerage Disposal Committee submits to the City Council and the City Administration the report of its study findings, and respectfully requests its dismissal. Respectfully submitted, (signed) G. Fred Wiedman General Chairman General Citizens' Sewerage Disposal Committee April , 1937. 8:45 P. M. REGULAR MEETING CONTINUED Councilman Goetz moved that the report of the General Citizens' Sewerage Disposal Committee be referred to the Board of Public Works end they in turn report back to the Council. Councilman Chambers moved to emend Councilmen Goetz' motion by expressing appreciation of determinin-V the facts of the sewerage disposal plant. Councilman Goetz accepts the amendment. Councilman Rasmussen seconded the mct ion. Mo +ion carried. There being no fur +her business Councilmen James moved to adjourn. Councilman Bierwagen seconded the motion. Motion carried. Council adjourned at 9:00 P. M. ATTEST: APPROVED: 17\Jt/ CLERK PRE IDE"