The asphalt bids are in for this season’s paving projects in Chesterton.

At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council voted 5-0 to take those bids under advisement.

The bids:

•Rieth-Riley bid $57.10 per ton for base, $57.10 per ton for binder, $64.60 per ton for surface, $1.60 per gallon for tack coat, and $1.34 per square yard for grinding.

•Walsh & Kelly bid $58 per ton for base, $58 per ton for binder, $67 per ton for surface, $4.70 per gallon for tack coat, and $1.80 per square yard for grinding.

In other business, members voted 5-0 to approve a contract with Ice Miller and H.J. Umbaugh & Associates to provide services for the upcoming bond issue to finance the construction of a new municipal facility at the former United Tractor property at 116 N. 15th St.

Ice-Miller’s price: $16,000 to $25,000; Umbaugh’s, $40,000.

In that project a new municipal building will be constructed on the site of the old United Tractor factory, to be used to headquarter the town’s engineering, stormwater, and economic development functions, among other things, as well as to provide storage for municipal vehicles and equipment.

Two outbuildings will also be constructed: a salt storage facility and a cold storage facility.

Town Engineer Mark O’Dell told the council that specs for the main municipal building will be ready to be advertised on Friday.

Meanwhile, members voted 5-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance which establishes a new work week for wastewater treatment plant operators, 5-0 to suspend the rules, then 5-0 to approve that ordinance on final reading.

Under that ordinance, plant operators will work a seven-day work week, beginning at 12 a.m. Saturday and ending at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

Members also voted 5-0 to authorize Fire Chief Mike Orlich to apply for a 95/5 grant for funds to replace hose and nozzles. The town would match the $48,610 grant with a 5-percent match of $2,451, Orlich said.

“Most of the fire hose is as old as I am,” Orlich noted. “A lot of it is fading. Nozzles too.”

Members voted 5-0 as well to authorize Orlich to sell the old ladder truck to a local person who previously offered $5,000 for it. Orlich said that the used fire apparatus broker with whom the town contracted has been unable to generate any interest in the vehicle, and that the local purchaser wants to use the ladder truck for maintenance on his property.

As it happens, the new aerial is currently out of service having an electrical problem repaired, Orlich reported. It should be back in service by the end of the week.

In addition, members voted 5-0 to release $1,750 in CEDIT funds to pay for software needed as part of the switchover to wireless communications for police squad radios.

Town Manager Bernie Doyle reported that he is currently soliciting bids from firms to scan into digital formats the town’s paper document files.

“We need to safeguard our documents,” Doyle said.

The council concluded the meeting by filling two vacancies created when former member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, was named Chief of Police.

The council first voted 5-0 to appoint Member Jim Ton, R-1st, to be the municipal representative to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

It then voted 5-0 to appoint President Jeff Trout, R-2nd, to the Redevelopment Commission.

Posted 5/11/2010