Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Councilman urges renewed focus on Lafayette sewer project; counsel reports settlement talks in Long Beach litigation
Summary
Councilman Don Przybylinski asked the Sanitary District to revive the long-stalled Lafayette Sewer Project to relieve recurring flooding; counsel said settlement negotiations with the city of Long Beach have produced general parameters for a potential settlement with proposed monthly payments and a response deadline from the clerk-treasurer.
Michigan City Councilman Don Przybylinski used the Sanitary Districts public-comment period on Jan. 28 to press for renewed work on the Lafayette Sewer Project, a drainage and sewer initiative begun about 15–18 years ago intended to reduce stormwater pressure in the Lafayette Street area.
"What I'm talking about is the Lafayette Sewer Project that was looked at, started approximately 15 to 18 years ago and it was designed to relieve storm water pressure in that part of the city," Przybylinski said, noting residents in the Lafayette corridor continue to experience flooding and curb and street issues.
Przybylinski also asked for an update on litigation with Long Beach. Counsel told the board the district had engaged in settlement negotiations and had reached agreement on general parameters of a potential settlement, including payments to be made monthly over the course of a year. Counsel said the clerk-treasurer was working on affordability details and had a Monday deadline to respond to a request tied to those negotiations.
Board members and staff said they would add a Lafayette update to a future meeting agenda so commissioners could review options and timing. Several elected officials acknowledged the projects cost and prior debt service through redevelopment funds had affected other priorities and that staff should provide a current status before deliberations.
The board did not take formal action on the Lafayette Project at the Jan. 28 meeting; commissioners asked staff to report back with details and a recommended timeline for next steps.
