10/17/13 Brent Martin updated member of the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission on the Metronet project.
The final alignment of the route has basically been selected. Martin noted that with so many utilities in the ground, they tried to avoid as many as possible. They are currently working on splice box locations which is a science as well as an art since many of them need to be where their subscribers are. Martin expects to have details of the route to commission members before the next meeting.
Martin predicted that the city’s share of the project will increase a bit from the projection because they will now be providing services to both city well sites and an added dog-leg to connect the Hoosier Tire plant in Plymouth. Martin noted that a great deal of the city’s portion of the Metronet will be directional bores which are more costly that open trenching.
The Redevelopment Commission expects to pay for the city’s share, approximately $1.1 million using TIF funds from the city’s three TIF districts. Martin suggested the commission start deciding how much each district will contribute to project. He also told them that Saint Joe County will put $250,000 into the project to fund the conduit that runs through their county. He said, “This will not reduce your share of the project costs but will be a benefit to the county.”
Mr. Martin also noted that this is probably the first time that two counties, a city and the private Metronet company have worked together on a single project.
