I was most dismayed to see in the July 8, 2009, Times-Union that the county commissioners are still considering the petition to include the Tippecanoe Lake area into the existing LRSD. I was even further dismayed and surprised that - if the story is accurate - Mr. Truex stated that he wasn't speaking either in favor of or against this expansion, but merely to "support a vehicle to allow them to join."
This statement is similar to the ones that Commissioner Truex made to me in side discussions during the IDEM presentation regarding Regional Sewer Districts Dec. 13, 2008, when he repeatedly told me there was "no downside to taking the step of allowing the petition to go forward." This is incorrect, as there is a major downside to the residents of the communities affected of the commissioners passing on the petition - the complete loss of significant, meaningful local input and/or control.
As is clear from the presentation made by IDEM Dec. 13, 2008, the last and only meaningful local input to whether or not the affected areas are included in LRSD is at this time - before the commissioners make a decision. All decisions following this point are made by those who have already decided that sewers should be required, including IDEM and the LRSD board.
As Commissioner Jackson said to the petitioners at the county commissioner's meeting Oct. 28, 2008, the petitioners have shown that they want the sewers, but not that they are needed. Especially during these economic times, the difference between a "want" and a "need" is a significant one and we should only move forward if there are clearly shown and data-based needs established, not the anecdotal comments made by the petitioners to date.
This is amplified by the fact that the prime petitioner and proponent of the inclusion of the Tippecanoe Lake area into the LRSD is a land developer attempting to sell properties in the affected area now.
I'm sure that the petitioners have made references to the high water experienced this winter and spring as more anecdotal - non-data-based - and emotional arguments in support of their cause. However, I would also be sure that they have no data to show the amount of raw sewage that was put into the lakes and ground water by overflow from the North Webster sewage treatment plant during those same heavy rains and high water. As is stated in all the reports the petitioners use to justify their petition, a properly functioning septic system is as effective and healthy as a sewer system. I was given all the reports used by the petitioner and asked to review them and it was my unbiased analysis of the same data (showing no benefit to sewers) that the petitioner used to support sewers that led to me being "uninvited" from the group.
I again request that the Kosciusko County Commissioners reject the petition to include the Tippecanoe Lake area in the LRSD based on a lack of data showing any true need for - or benefit to be derived from - this expensive venture.
