The Schererville Town Council on Wednesday greenlighted two major public works projects intended to fix longstanding issues in those respective neighborhoods.

By approving a $355,775 bid from Davis Construction, the town will deliver a sidewalk project in the Tara, Ridgemoor Estates and Amberleigh subdivisions. The new sidewalks will essentially connect the three neighborhoods, improving pedestrian and bike traffic in those areas. The new sidewalks are also intended to improve access to the Pennsy Greenway Trail.

Over in Briar Ridge, the town will repair a section of rusted corrugated drainage pipe along Inverness Lane. Accordingly, the Town Council awarded a $1.3 million bid to Hasse Construction.

Town Manager Jim Gorman explained that the corrugated steel is rusting and will be repaired by inserting a “smooth wall skin” inside. He noted that the corrugated pipe was laid across town many years ago and there are other areas in need of repair.

“We want to start picking them off,” Gorman said. “We’re hoping to get financial assistance from Lake County and the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission.”

The town funds park improvements in part through a park impact fee, and the council renewed that ordinance, as required after five years. The fee of $2,170 per dwelling will stay for all new construction.

Helping hand to Chamber

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Schererville Chamber of Commerce took out a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to help local business, and the chamber must now pay it back. However, the Town Council stepped in and approved a $10,000 allotment from remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay off the loan.

Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.