Council hears Stocker Street sewer-repair update, approves $1.37 million in vouchers and discusses abandoned utility boxes

The Angola City Common Council received a public-works update and approved routine financial items on March 16.

Public-works representative Gaff (S9) reported a collapsed-sewer replacement on Stocker Street requiring a complete 444-foot replacement. Gaff said crews discovered concrete under the road "about the size of a small car," which required breaking and hand excavation; crews pumped basements and plugged drains after one resident’s home flooded over the weekend. "They had to break most of it up today... it was wrapped around storm lines and sewer lines," Gaff said, and staff expected crews to resume work and hook up pipes to restore flow.

Separately, council approved accounts payable vouchers (checks 78855 through 79089) totaling $1,370,225.71, which included interfund transfers of $50,308; a council member moved to allow the treasurer to pay the bills and the motion passed by voice vote.

During new business a councilor raised concerns about torn-up or abandoned utility boxes and hanging wires in neighborhoods and asked council to inventory those boxes and contact carriers (Verizon/Frontier) for removal; staff agreed that an inventory including location and identifying numbers would be the next step.

Why it matters: the sewer repair affects neighborhood drainage and safety; the voucher approval covers city obligations; obsolete telecom infrastructure can create blight and safety hazards.

What’s next: crews will continue Stocker Street work; staff will compile an inventory of abandoned utility boxes and contact carriers for removal.