By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Annexation of a stretch of S.R. 17 across from St. Joseph Regional Medical Center took a big step forward last night.
In preparation of the proposed annexation, the various department heads were asked to prepare a fiscal plan for the city’s cost in providing the needed infrastructure and security for the area.

Water Department Superintendent Jeff Yeazel revised the numbers before his board. Originally projecting a cost of nearly $250,000, Yeazel informed the board that he had re-worked figures to complete the  hook-up of the current properties in the area to city water. The project could be completed for around $154,000.
An additional $42,000 would be needed to provide a water main “loop” in the area if it were to undergo development in the future, but that project would not need completion in the three years required by statute for annexation. If it were undertaken, the cost would be incurred by the developer of the area.
Street Department Superintendent Jim Marquardt also provided figures for the board’s consideration. State statute requires that a city also annex any road that abuts the proposed annexation area and figures to update Hillcrest Drive to city standards would run around $32,000.
Both the Water Works and Board of Public Works and Safety voted to accept the estimates to use as part of the fiscal plan the city must now prepare as part of the annexation.
During the meeting of the Plymouth Common Council the fiscal plan for providing municipal services was accepted, moving the process of annexation on to the next step.
In other business, the city also approved contracts with two companies regarding the Economic Development Agency grant of $1.1 million for the tech park.
Hughes and Associates will act as the grant administrator for the project with B.A. Martin Architects acting as the architectural and engineering consultants.
• With the North Michigan street project near a close the city will see big savings. Change orders on the project such as using mulch instead of sod and several related structure changes will save the city nearly $10,000 on the project.
• City Engineer Rick Gaul asked for consideration of new street markings for the area at a cost of $5,100. If the change order is approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation, the total cost to the city would only be around $1,000 with the 80/20 matching funds.
The project was approved pending INDOT approval.