82nd Street / Westfield Blvd Septic Tank Elimination Program

Below is information from Citizen’s Energy Group about the STEP program coming to the 82nd & Westfield area. If you live in the area shown in the shaded portion of the map below, you are being switched from septic to city sewer.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER:

Sandy Shafer (Citizens) (317) 429-3981 email

 

STEP

BASICS

ENROLLMENT PERIOD:  30 days from yesterday, August 16 2016. After the 30 day period, you can enroll until approximately April 2017, but with an additional $500 fee per household.

COST: $2766/household

OPTIONAL? No. Connection to the sewer system is mandatory, and the $2766 fee is required even if you opt to use your own contractor (which is roughly an additional $5000-15000/household).

More about Septic Elimination: DETAILS ABOUT STEP PROGRAM HERE

New Rate Information: CEGRatesPDF

A few notes from the meeting yesterday:

-Nobody from Citizens will ever come to your house requesting payment for anything. If anyone wearing a Citizens shirt or badge is at your home requesting payment – do not pay them; it is a scam. Very few reported instances like this have happened, but please be alert and let any elderly or shut-in neighbors know to never write a check to someone claiming to be from Citizens.

-Additional monthly electricity costs for running the grinder pump is about $2/month.

-See the second link above for information about the monthly sewage costs.

-If you choose to do the monthly payment plan rather than paying the full fee up front, the fees will be added to your monthly sewer bill. You will begin paying AFTER you are receiving service. If you sell your home before you have finished paying off the hook up fee, you are responsible for paying the balance (the balance may not be transferred to the new homeowner). Either you will continue paying on your monthly bill if you remain a Citizens customer, or you will work out another payment option with Citizens.

-Beginning in 2016, Citizens began implementing the low-pressure systems w/grinder pumps. This is a less expensive alternative to the traditional gravity systems that were previously installed. A big advantage of a low-pressure system is that trees, fences, gardens, etc… can mostly be preserved. The horizontal digging process is less invasive than trenching and there is more flexibility on where Citizens can put the lateral hook up to each home. Drawbacks to low pressure systems are the on-going maintenance requirement for the pump ($2,500 replacement cost) and the potential for electrical upgrade on a home (ie, 110v to 220v).

-There are pump maintenance contracts available that cost about what a typical HVAC maintenance contract would.

 (information provided via Nora’s City-County Councilor, Colleen Fanning)
http://colleenfanning.com/82nd-street-westfield-blvd-septic-tank-elimination-program/

The Indiana Fine Arts Academy comes to Nora

Looking for affordable small group or private music, theatre or art lessons? The Indiana Fine Arts Academy is a new non-profit organization serving the Nora area. They offer premier classes in music, dance, art, and theater instruction in an environment where students can increase their knowledge in the fine arts, develop their skills, and apply them through personal expression, recitals, and performance opportunities.

The Fine Arts Academy operates in partnership with The Cottage School at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, conveniently located on East 86th Street in Nora.

Academy students range in age from toddlers all the way to senior adults. Their faculty represents over 75 years of education experience. Each teacher has received formal training in their discipline, and is an active contributor to the arts landscape in Indianapolis.

For more information, visit www.IndianaFineArtsAcademy.org.

PRESS RELEASE: Marion County Transit Plan Implementing Indy Connect

Throughout February public meetings are scheduled to discuss transit plans. The plan proposes changes to local transit routes and rapid transit. The currently proposed Red Line (BRT) phase 2 route would bypass central Nora. The Nora Alliance has requested a public meeting be scheduled in Nora.

INDIANAPOLIS (February 1, 2016) – Based on years of planning, IndyGo, with the support of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), is shepherding a Marion County transit plan through a public involvement process. Throughout the month of February, public meetings, community outreach, and input opportunities will solidify a strategy for significant mass transit improvements in Indianapolis.

Since 2009, various studies and sustained public involvement under the banner Indy Connect have helped sculpt a detailed plan for regional mass transit. This spring, the IndyGo Board of Directors could endorse a Marion County plan aligned with this regional strategy while serving local needs. By 2021, the expanded system would bring high-frequency service to nearly 250,000 more residents and jobs, running seven days a week with a 71% increase in total service hours.

“Rapid transit routes like the Red Line that are part of the Indy Connect plan have garnered significant public attention over the years,” said Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director, Anna Gremling. “These lines are exciting, but they’re just part of a more detailed plan to improve transit across the region.”

Aside from the proposed Red, Blue, and Purple rapid transit lines in the plan, sweeping improvements to the local bus service have been detailed including buses coming more often, earlier in the morning, and later into the night. A new grid pattern for the bus system will make for easy transfers and quicker travel seven days a week.

“Access to transportation is one of the strongest factors that affect economic mobility,” said IndyGo President and CEO, Mike Terry. “A robust transit system has the ability to empower people by connecting them to employment and education, revitalize neighborhoods, give residents more lifestyle options, and access to daily necessities.”

Legislation passed by the State legislature gives some counties in Central Indiana a new funding mechanism for transit by calling a referendum. The plan for Marion County assumes passage of a referendum in 2016 at .25% with new funding available in 2017.

“We are eager to talk about these plans to greatly enhance our services,” said IndyGo Director of Public Affairs, Bryan Luellen. “Feedback from the public is a hallmark of our planning process.”

Public comments received through the end of February will be reviewed and considered for any final revisions to the plan ahead of an endorsement decision by the IndyGo board of directors in March.

PUBLIC MEETING LOCATIONS AND DATES:
  • Friday, February 5 at Central Library 
Knoll Meeting Room
    Open House from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at 12:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, February 13 at the Haughville Library
    Open House from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at 12:00 p.m.
  • Monday, February 15 at Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFÉ) 8902 E. 38th Street
    Open House from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, February 27 at Central Library
Knoll Meeting Room
    Open House from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at 12:30 p.m.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE PLAN:

Plan details are available online and at the IndyGo Retail Center, 34 N. Delaware Street. 

IndyGo is also offering unstaffed information displays at various library branches. More details online.

Comments can be made in writing at a meeting or at an unstaffed information display, online, or through customer service at 317.635.3344.

Individuals requiring any accommodations for access to information should contact the IndyGo marketing department at 317.614.9295. Reasonable accommodations will be made upon request for materials in foreign languages, Braille, large print, or electronic means.

ABOUT INDYGO:

IndyGo, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, provides public transit service throughout Marion County. In 2016, IndyGo will open the Downtown Transit Center at the corner of Washington and Delaware and make major system-wide route changes. Visit our website, follow @IndyGoBus on Twitter, or call 317.635.3344 for more information.