It's been precisely a year since the first ceremonial shovels hit the dirt in Hamilton County for the Baker’s Corner/US31 Infrastructure Investment Project, and the county is reviewing the strides taken toward a transformative future. Touted to extend sewer and water utilities to an area that is somewhat starved for modern amenities, the project has a hefty $45 million price tag but promises significant benefits for local residents and businesses.
Mark Heirbrandt, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners, expressed enthusiasm about the project's progress. "Our main objective is to give residents the option to connect to our utilities, especially given the health concerns surrounding high E. coli levels and failed septic systems in the area," he told Hamilton County's official site. The development, expected to spur high-earning jobs and essential services, spans an ambitious 42 square miles, nearly equivalent to the size of Carmel.
The investment doesn't just lay pipes; it's sowing the seeds for a robust economic bloom. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has designated an 80-acre parcel for agricultural enterprises while housing developers are already eyeing connections to the freshly laid utilities. The whole endeavor is not just a boon to the water and sewerage lines but is concurrently expanding internet broadband access and road infrastructure, with the goal of supporting the swelling populations of Cicero, Sheridan, and other township in the collective northern stretch.
Marty Wessler, Chief Executive Officers of Wessler Engineering, predicts the system will be live and greeting its first flow by early 2025, offering residents a long-awaited invitation to modern utility services. “Construction for the Indiana National Guard Armory on 276th Street on the east side of US31 is on schedule and within budget, and the rest of the project is coming together swiftly,” Wessler elaborated. Funding for this initiative is a mix of county, state, and federal monies, including $25 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and an additional $20 million from the state dedicated to the newly-minted Hamilton County Regional Utility District.
