FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Bill Smith
President, Board of Sanitary Commissioners
(765) 213–6468
Muncie Sanitary District announces two relocation projects
MUNCIE, INDIANA — Muncie Sanitary District recently announced two new relocation projects for some of its offices and departments. These projects are expected to improve operational efficiencies and save on energy and transportation costs.
The first project would relocate the District’s Sanitation Department to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The department is currently located in a 90-year-old building on Centennial Avenue; the structure is located in the 100-year flood plain, is not equipped to properly ventilate exhaust from compressed natural gas trucks, and is in need of excessive repairs, including a new roof.
“Moving our Sanitation Department to a new facility is more cost-effective than repairing the current building,” said Bill Smith, president of MSD’s Board of Sanitary Commissioners. “So not only will this relocation improve our operations, but it will also save us and the taxpayers money.”
The new building on Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard would cost approximately $15 million, but MSD said it will not be increasing taxes to pay for the project.
Instead, the project is funded through substantial savings the District achieved when converting all MSD-owned vehicles to compressed natural gas. Converting to compressed natural gas has, on average, saved MSD around $1.50 per gallon since 2014. MSD has also brought in additional revenue by selling compressed natural gas to trucking firms, police departments, and other organizations.
“Our switch to compressed natural gas not only reduced our emissions but also reduced tax increases for our customers,” Smith said. “Savings and revenue from the switch have enabled us to make these necessary improvements that enhance our service—all without raising taxes.”
The second project MSD announced is the renovation of an existing building on Jackson Street to house its engineering department, sewer utility billing department, IT and executive offices. Currently, these offices are scattered throughout the city; consolidating them into one space would save the District on energy and transportation costs, as well as improve efficiency.
MSD’s billing department is currently located in City Hall. The District said it has received several complaints from customers about difficulty parking and a lack of ADA compliance. The new building will feature ample parking, a drive-through window for bill paying and ADA-compliant entrances.
“This relocation project accomplishes several things at once: It streamlines our internal operations, it allows City Hall to expand its offices, and it provides a more customer-friendly experience,” Smith said.
The Jackson Street building will cost approximately $1 million, which is approximately equivalent to just $0.23 per month per customer.
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About Muncie Sanitary District
The Muncie Sanitary District (MSD), created under Indiana State law in 1968 by the action of an Ordinance of the City of Muncie, Ind., provides services to the public in the areas of code enforcement, engineering, sanitation, sewer maintenance, stormwater management, water pollution control, and recycling. In addition to these services, the MSD maintains a statewide position of leadership in green infrastructure through its commitment to programs and initiatives that make the Muncie community a better place to live.
Muncie Sanitary District Fact Sheet for Announcement
Muncie Sanitary District has announced two new building construction projects, which are expected to cost approximately $16 million combined. The first project will be a building located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to house the Sanitation Department. The second project will be on Jackson Street and is intended to house the engineering department, the sewer utility billing department, IT, and executive offices; these offices are currently spread among multiple buildings throughout the city. Additional information on each project can be found below.
PROJECT ONE: NEW SANITATION DEPARTMENT BUILDING ON Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD
Why is this project happening?
The Sanitation Department’s current building is about 90 years old, located in a flood plain, and in need of extensive repairs. Given its current condition, it would be more cost effective for MSD to build a new building than to repair the current one. Additionally, the current building is not equipped to properly ventilate exhaust from compressed natural gas trucks, and all trucks are currently being sent across the city for maintenance and repairs. The new facility would house truck maintenance and increase
operational efficiency.
How much will this project cost, and how will it be funded?
This project is expected to total $15 million. Muncie Sanitary District has requested no tax increases to the public for this project.
MSD is able to finance this project without raising taxes because of substantial cost savings it has implemented within the past few years, like switching all MSD-owned vehicles to compressed natural gas rather than diesel, which has saved the District approximately $1.50 per gallon since 2014.
The project on Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard will be financed through a 5-year Bond Anticipation Note (BAN).
When will this project be completed?
The new Sanitation Department building is expected to be completed by October 2020.
PROJECT TWO: NEW MAIN OFFICE BUILDING ON JACKSON STREET
Why is this project happening?
MSD has decided to consolidate its engineering department, sewer utility billing department, IT, and executive offices into one building to further increase operational efficiency and savings on energy and transportation costs. MSD has also received a number of complaints from customers about its current billing office located in City Hall regarding a lack of parking and a lack of ADA compliance. The new building will feature plenty of parking, a drive-up window for bill paying, and ADA-compliant entrances.
How much will this project cost, and how will it be funded?
This project is expected to cost $1 million. This is equivalent to just $0.23 per month per customer. Muncie Sanitary District has requested no tax increases to the public for this project.
When will this project be completed?
This building is expected to be finished in 2021.
What is going to happen with the existing buildings?
The buildings on Kilgore Avenue that currently house engineering and IT will be torn down.