Manager oversees projects in restructuring

ST. JOHN | Several million dollars worth of public works projects previously overseen by the St. John director of operations now are under the town manager's watch.

Bob Pharazyn worked 10 years for the town, most recently as director of operations, overseeing the building and planning, public works and parks departments. His job was eliminated in September.

"I was 100 percent responsible and accountable for all those projects and that work," Pharazyn said.

Town Manager Steve Kil said he is in the process of restructuring staff responsibilities to make sure coordination of those major projects is not lost.

"The oversight now is obviously my responsibility," he said.

Kil said he and three foremen from the public works department meet twice monthly to discuss all town projects.

Among them is construction of a water treatment plant in The Gates of St. John, on U.S. 231, east of U.S. 41. The town awarded a $2.23 million contract in July to Thieneman Construction for the project.

Kil said town engineer Robinson Engineering has had someone on site four hours a day, in addition to Derwin Neitzel, St. John water operator.

Construction also began this summer on a multimillion dollar 13,000-foot sewer interceptor line stretching from St. John to the Schererville wastewater treatment plant. The 36-inch pipe will provide more sewage capacity for St. John, which has an existing 24-inch pipe. A local developer is paying for the work and will recapture the money from building permits.

Although it is not a town construction project, the town is providing oversight from its public works department, Kil said.

"I receive daily updates," he said.

Pharazyn said that when he oversaw the project, he had delegated the day-to-day work but was called upon to solve numerous issues that came up.

Pharazyn also said that at the time of his termination, he was involved in rate negotiations between Schererville and St. John. Because St. John is allocated a portion of the Schererville wastewater treatment capacity, the two towns negotiate rates every two years, Pharazyn said.

Kil said the negotiations are being handled by the St. John Utility Board attorney, president and a financial adviser.