Elkhart County Commissioners approve advertising for paving program
GOSHEN — The Elkhart County Commissioners on Monday approved a request from the Elkhart County Highway Department to advertise for the Community Crossings Matching Grant paving program. The department was approved for the grant at about $1.5 million.
In other matters, the commissioners:
• Approved an additional appropriation request from the Middlebury Southeast Tax Increment Finance Fund in the amount of $63,000 for the TIF Westlake Sewer Payment. Director of Planning and Development Mae Kratzer said the cost is not in addition to the original $126,000 but rather a payment that was not made before the end of 2024.
• Approved $69,000 from the Middlebury East TIF for the Warren Street Water Main Relocate Design. Kratzer said the cost is due to a bridge project in the area and the main needs relocated.
• Approved a noise ordinance variance for a property in the 58000 block of Kendall Street in Elkhart for April 26. The petitioner, Mario Mejia, noted in the request that the event will be from 6-11 p.m. with a live band and speakers from 7-10 p.m.
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6 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Water' kicks off Modesto discussion series on key issues inspired by city motto
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of advocacy sessions dedicated to the words residents know so well: 'Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.' The series, which runs monthly through September, started with a session on water. It was held June 5 at the State Theatre downtown. Trish Christensen, president and CEO of the chamber, said she wanted to team up its economic development committee and government relations council to bring conference-room discussions out into the community. 'We're really wanting to bring some of the key specialists in these different realms and wanted to lean into the city motto: water, wealth, contentment, health.' Michael Gaffney, divisions operations specialist for Pacific Gas & Electric, kicked off the event by highlighting the work of people who were responsible for restoring the Modesto Arch, which crosses H Street at Ninth Street downtown. 'Standing proudly since 1912, the Modesto Arch has long symbolized our community's values and aspirations,' he said. 'Back then, and even today, the arch is illuminated at night, drawing our attention to the four words that tell a story of the condition of Stanislaus County since the Sierras began irrigating our land.' Dorene D'Adamo, vice chair of the California Water Resources Control Board, was the event's keynote speaker. She provided a more sobering picture of water challenges, access and opportunities for sustainable solutions to the Central Valley's ongoing water crisis. 'Every year, there's another record that's been broken of some kind,' she said, describing the chaotic shifts, or 'weather whiplash,' between drought and heavy rainfall. It's not just droughts that need to be planned for, she said, but also the alarmingly wet conditions that threaten floods. 'Use the water when you have it,' D'Adamo said. 'In years of plenty, use surface water. And then in years we're challenged by dry conditions, that's when you turn on those pumps and draw water out from the ground.' Audience member Marcus Haney challenged D'Adamo about why farmers are being hit with restrictions on drilling wells. 'You know, back in my day, when those wells were developed, they dug until they hit water. 'Looks good, let's sink this well,'' he said. He went on to say he believes the issue isn't about water availability, but storage. D'Adamo replied that digging too many deep wells in the area will lead to a depletion of groundwater. 'In the end, we're going to see restrictions, we're going to see land being fallowed – it's really unfortunate,' she said. 'This is a beautiful area, and as you say, the agricultural productivity is second to none — but districts or groundwater sustainability agencies are going to look at how to manage this.' Another question from the audience was about where funds for the Proposition 1 bond measure from 2014 which focused on infrastructure for water resilience in the state, went. D'Adamo mentioned the Sites Reservoir as being a recipient of those funds but also said there are funds still available. Money allocated for projects that didn't go through is returned for use on other projects, she said. Another person was concerned that one of the water storage projects mentioned might impact her access to spring water from Del Puerto Canyon. D'Adamo lives in Turlock and said she sees improvements in water use efficiency, but not as much as when she visits her sister in Santa Cruz. 'They're way ahead of us,' she said. Christensen said she's not an 'ag person' and does not work in water by trade, so she learned a lot about the value of water in the Valley during the session. 'That tie to water, the people in our community, unless they are in ag, they don't necessarily understand how important being part of this is,' she said. 'Tracking it, supporting it, conserving it, being part of the solution — we all need to be part of that.' D'Adamo opened her keynote address by thanking the chamber for inviting her. 'I think the chamber's focus on 'water, wealth, contentment, health' is apt at a time when communities all across the state are really challenged by some of the things we're seeing with climate change,' she said. The next session in the series will be held July 25 and focus on wealth and is open to the public but costs $35 to attend. Registration can be found on the Modesto Chamber of Commerce website. Panelists will be Stanislaus County Supervisor Mani Grewal, City Councilmember Nick Bavaro and the director of Modesto's Engineering Department, Toby Wells.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
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Bonus ban for water company bosses
Failing water company bosses have had their 'undeserved' bonuses blocked under new laws designed to crack down on sewage spills. For the first time in history, six firms have been banned from handing the extra payments to their top executives after falling short of strict new standards set by Ofwat, the regulator. The new measures, underpinned by the Water (Special Measures) Act, are intended to hold the sector to account following mounting anger over sewage spills blighting Britain's waterways. It means that any firm convicted of a criminal offence or failing to meet basic environmental, financial or consumer standards will now be forbidden from handing out bonuses to senior bosses. The change, which comes into force on Friday, is backdated, meaning it will apply to payments for the 2024-25 financial year. The six firms immediately stripped of their right to pay bonuses are Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities and Southern Water. If a failing company pays a bonus while it is subject to a ban, Ofwat has the power to claw the money back. The Government has also been urged to come down hard on any firm that appears to be inflating its basic pay packets as a workaround. Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, said: 'Water company bosses, like anyone else, should only get bonuses if they've performed well, certainly not if they've failed to tackle water pollution. 'Undeserved bonuses will now be banned as part of the Government's plan to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. 'Promise made, promise delivered.' The companies banned from paying bonuses on Friday may still be able to offer rewards for the current financial year, provided they bring their practices in line with the new rules. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), more than £112 million in bonuses and incentives has been handed out by water firms in the last 10 years. Under the new rules, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Thames Water, and Southern Water will all be unable to pay bonuses to the chief executive or chief financial officer for the 2024-25 financial year. Anglian Water will be forbidden from paying its chief executive a bonus, but its chief financial officer will not be subject to the ban. Wessex Water will be barred from paying its chief financial officer any extra, but its chief executive will be exempt. This is because certain people were not in post at the time of the incidents that broke the new rules. Campaign group River Action called the move a 'welcome step' but warned that inflated salaries should be prevented. James Wallace, its chief executive, said: 'We won't end pollution for profit until water companies are refinanced and governed for public benefit. 'Any attempt to inflate base pay as a workaround must be stamped out. No more cream for the fat cats.' Thames Water was recently fined £122.7 million, the largest penalty Ofwat has ever issued. It came after the watchdog discovered widespread sewage failures at the struggling utility giant, which was subject to the sector's 'biggest and most complex investigation'.The debt-laden company was also punished for breaking dividend rules, as Ofwat found that Thames handed its investors more than £130 million in 'undeserved' payments in 2023 and 2024. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Six water companies banned from paying bonuses to senior bosses
Six water companies have been banned from paying bonuses to senior bosses, under new rules that come into force on Friday. Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities and Southern Water have been told that they cannot issue bonuses for the financial year 2024/25, which concluded in April. They have all been banned under new rules which prevent bonuses from being paid if a water company does not meet environmental or consumer standards, does not meet financial resilience requirements, or is convicted of a criminal offence. The six companies are not under an indefinite ban, and those firms may be able to offer rewards for the 2025/26 year, provided they stick within the Ofwat rules, under the Water (Special Measures) Act which comes into force on Friday. If a company pays a bonus while it is under a ban, the water regulator Ofwat has the power to get the money back. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, more than £112 million in bonuses and incentives have been handed out by water firms in the last ten years. Water companies set their own salary and reward packages, and it is understood that if firms that are banned from offering bonuses increase salaries to try to compensate, then officials may look into it. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Water company bosses, like anyone else, should only get bonuses if they've performed well, certainly not if they've failed to tackle water pollution. 'Undeserved bonuses will now be banned as part of the Government's plan to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. 'Promise made, promise delivered.' Under the new rules, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Thames Water, and Southern Water will all be unable to pay bonuses to the chief executive or chief financial officer, for the 24/25 financial year. Anglian Water will be banned from paying their chief executive a bonus, but their chief financial officer will not be banned. Wessex Water will be banned from paying their chief financial officer any extra, but their chief executive will be exempt. The exemptions are because people were not in post when the incident that broke Ofwat's rules happened. Campaign group River Action have called the move a 'welcome step' but said that increased salaries should be prevented. Chief executive James Wallace said: 'We won't end pollution for profit until water companies are refinanced and governed for public benefit. 'Any attempt to inflate base pay as a workaround must be stamped out. 'The era of rewarding criminal leadership must end. No more cream for the fat cats.' Wessex Water have said that under their own rules, 'which require the achievement of specific customer and environmental performance targets', neither the chief executive nor chief financial officer would receive any bonus. A spokesperson added: 'Looking ahead, we are planning a step change in the maintenance of our sewerage infrastructure, with a proposed investment of approximately £300 million by 2030.' A Southern Water spokesperson said: 'We note the Government's announcement and await full details of how this will impact our existing approach to performance-related reward. 'This is already closely tied to the delivery of improvements in customer satisfaction and environmental performance. 'Any bonuses are paid by shareholders, not customers, and are overseen by an independent committee.' A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: 'Our chief executive, Nicola Shaw, had already made the decision that it would not be appropriate for her to receive an annual bonus this year, due to the company's performance on pollution, and a recognition that we need to do better for the communities we serve and earn trust. 'She has also taken the decision to waive her entitlement to an additional bonus that would have vested under our longer-term incentive scheme. 'We are determined to make improvements to our performance so we can deliver our part in creating a thriving Yorkshire, doing right for our customers and the environment.' It comes after Thames Water were fined £122.7 million, the largest penalty the water watchdog has ever issued, after two investigations into wastewater and dividend payments. The utility giant will pay £104.5 million for breaches of rules relating to its wastewater operations, and an extra £18.2 million for breaking rules related to dividend payments.
