Tracy Neumeier

This investment plan outlines the strategic direction for City of Fort Wayne Utilities to ensure sustainable, reliable, and secure infrastructure. It focuses on investing in public health and safety, supporting economic development, and mitigating system disruptions in stormwater, sewer, and water mains. The plan details past investments, their positive outcomes, and outlines a comprehensive 2025-2030 strategy for water main replacement, sewer improvements, and numerous neighborhood stormwater projects, all while maintaining financial strength and optimizing internal resources to achieve strategic savings.

The document outlines City Utilities of Fort Wayne's strategic investment plan, focusing on ensuring sustainable, reliable, and secure infrastructure. It addresses past system disruptions and aims to advance public health, safety, and economic development through significant capital improvements. The plan details comprehensive water main replacements, sewer capacity upgrades, and numerous neighborhood stormwater projects for the 2025-2030 period, emphasizing internal optimization, securing external funding, and maintaining financial stability.

The document outlines the City of Fort Wayne's Long Term Control Plan for managing Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and their impact on receiving waters. It details system characterization, public participation, implementation of nine minimum controls, and comprehensive data analysis of watersheds, collection systems, and pollutant sources. The plan focuses on extensive monitoring and modeling activities to understand baseline conditions, assess CSO impacts, and support the evaluation and optimization of control alternatives. Key goals include attaining water quality standards for aquatic life and recreational uses in the St. Joseph, St. Mary's, and Maumee Rivers, and Spy Run Creek.

This Strategic Plan outlines the direction for utility services, focusing on utility growth and customer support. Key areas addressed include managing infrastructure expansion through Aqua North and Aqua Southwest growth initiatives, optimizing pipe per customer ratios, and establishing financial frameworks such as water availability fees, system development charges, sewer connection fees, and capital improvement surcharges. The plan also emphasizes supporting regional development and industry by detailing investments and job creation. The overall objective is to ensure sustainable utility services and foster regional economic growth.

The Utility Advisory Group meeting included a budget overview, highlighting increased water consumption due to expanded service areas and the impact of fixed costs on rates. Discussions covered the Water Utility Corrosion Control Program, with plans to add orthophosphate to improve pipe corrosion control. Updates were provided on the TunnelWorks program, including construction progress and site conditions. Various departmental and project updates were shared, including construction projects, upgrades to digesters, and efforts to reduce taste and odor complaints at the Filtration Plant. The meeting also touched on tree trimming plans and potential collaboration on capturing floatables at stormwater outfalls.