The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-05-01
HIGH POSTWAR
COSTS MAY DELAY
SEWAGE SYSTEM
How Much Costs Have Risen
Might Affect Attitude of
Voters Toward Project
Engineering And Specifications
Work VIII Be Completed
This Spring


tons sewer problem is back on the
municipal doorstep bringing with it
an additional problem in the form of
higher postwar construction costs at
time when the town has previously
committed itself to take up the entire
matter looking toward possible So
luton.
An important decision in policy
will be up TO the town council this
spring on the sewer question. AL
tho the municipality pledged itself to
take up the matter of sewer sys-
tenn at the close of the war, it has
been thus far impossible to proceed,
because plans and specifications were
not ready.
However, with completion of engi-
neer's blueprints the entire matter
viii be in the hands of the council as
to the decision for the next step.
The sharp upward spiraIing Of con-
struction costs is q factor expected
to weigh heavily In the councils
timing Of the whole program,
In an out Of court settlement Of
stream pollution lawsuits which cost
the town $4,000 in damages in the
summer of 1943, the municipality
agreed to take steps toward install
ing sewer system at the close of
the war.
Last summer the town council au-
thorized the Toledo engineering firm
of Finkbeiner, Pett;s and Stout to
make plans and specifications for the
sewer system. Those plans are sche-
duled to be completed this spring and
are expected here within another
month or six weeks.
What Next?
With submission of plans to the
couacil. the next step would be TO
submit the proposal for bond is-
sue for that purpose to either vote
either at a special election this sum-
mer or at the general election in
November.
However what effect soaring costs
of construction may have on the pro-
posals over 20-year period is in-
jecting a note of caution into plans
to proceed and conceivably could eff
feet a delay in any move of the adj
ministration to bring the matter to
showdown at this time.
Public works projects generally are
being held up thruout the state be-
cause Of prevailing high cost of labor
and materials and because in many
cases communities prefer to wait un-
til recession times when local, state
and federal governments may be
called upon to provide work projects
for unemployed.
Whether the course of revival of
Bluffton's oft-proposed sewage dis
posal system may follow a similar
pattern largely may depend on the
estimate of cost submitted by engi-
neers when they complete all pre-
liminary planning and specifications
work this spring.
Cost 100000 in 1899
Cost of the disposal system voted
down in 1899 was 100000, the latest
figures available, but in view of price
trends since that time an outlay of
nearly twice that figure might be
expected at this time.
The 1899 estimate was for COM
plete system, including disposal
plant, together with intercepting
sewers plus new sewer mains thruout
the town, and cost of construction in
these times might be shaved by in
stalling only the interceptors.
Preliminary estimates for inter-
cepting sewers only have indicated an
approximate cost of S250,000, which
might not be out of line providing
federal aid would be made available
in a proposed bill now before Con-
gress.
All necessary work preliminary to
the granting of contracts is being
completed by the Toledo engineering
firm of Finkbeiner, Pettis and Stout.
Federal Loan
Funds to proceed with engineering
details were made available thru an
interest-free loan advanced by the
federal government. The loan is TO
be repaid from funds voted by resi-
dents Of the town, if and when the
sewage disposal project may be ap-
proved
In three Of FIVE elections on the
sewage disposal question since 1927,
the town was offered federal assist
ance thru agencies created to pro-
vide employment during the depres-
sion era. Whether similar grants
can be expected in the postwar per-
iod i a question that looms high in
Importance in determining how much
Continued on page 10)