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After approving an application for inclusion into the Tippecanoe Chapman Regional Sewer District, the Kosciusko County Commissioners were given an update on the $52 million sewer district project that’s completed.
Jones, Petrie & Rafinski (JPR) Chief Engineering Manager Steve Henschen presented the application for inclusion for the property at 106 EMS C30 Lane, Leesburg, owned by Dylan and Alicia Goble. He said it’s the sewer district’s 12th request for inclusion.
“As you can see from the map ... the boundary line of the district was on the channel side of C 30 Lane, but didn’t include the homes that were away from the channel on Chapman Lake,” Henschen said. “This person had reached out to the health department because they were having some septic issues, actually a septic failure, getting backups into their home. The health department directed them to the district to see if the district would be willing to take them on as a customer.”
Last week at the district’s board meeting, the board approved a motion to allow the customer to connect. With the district’s blessing to accept the property, and the homeowner wanting to proceed, the final decision was up to the commissioners.
“This homeowner will connect to the sewer system at their cost. They will purchase their own grinder and tie in to the district’s main, and to keep everything all neat and clean, the district likes to make sure the customers are all part of the district territory,” Henschen explained.
With Tuesday’s petition for inclusion, he said, “This is now 30 additional single-family parcels that have been brought into the district since the project began,” he said, noting one petition was for 19 lots.
The commissioners unanimously approved the petition.
Jeff Thornburgh, president of the sewer district, provided an update on the district’s activities to the commissioners.
“We’re just finishing up the construction phase of this project, and that was a $52 million project, and I’m here to say we’re on time and on budget, and I’m very pleased to be able to report that,” he said.
The district is starting normal operations in a positive cash position, he said, and they’re very pleased with that.
“We think a lot of the credit for our success goes to a very strong advisory team that we have, and we have a very strong voluntary board,” Thornburgh said.
He mentioned that six of the seven members of the district’s board of directors were residents of the district. Thornburgh thanked the county commissioners and council for selecting a good board to get started six years ago.
“We’re not done yet. We’ve got what we call an East Webster subdivision project we’re trying to get funding for through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). It’s about a $7 million project. We requested funds through the SRF. We believe it’s significant,” he said, noting the county asked them to take a look at the project.
“It’s about a $7 million project. It’s the last segment of Webster Lake that’s without a sewer system. Of the 221 homes in the segment, about half of them have a well to septic distance that’s under the recommended 50 feet. So there’s a bit of a health concern here in terms of density in this area,” Thornburgh said.
The board has written to SRF, individuals and state legislators. He said they’re hoping to get the funding in July to finish the project. Thornburgh asked the commissioners for their support, such as letters.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said he saw the sewer district as a positive all around, not only for the lakes but also for the property owners who will be able to fully utilize all of their properties. He said he appreciated the board’s help in steering the project.
“It’s a huge investment in our community. Probably the largest sewer project that’s happened in our county ever when you think about it from that perspective, so it’s really cool to see you being on time, under budget. That doesn’t happen a lot in today’s world,” Groninger said.
On the East Webster Lake sub-district project, Groninger questioned if they could get the kind of funding that was needed to get it off the ground.
“That’s a good question,” Thornburgh said. “It’s a $7 million project. It could be a lot more. The advantage of what we have is we have a Knapp Lake sewer line that flows towards Webster, and we’re going to tap into that, which keeps our costs down significantly.”
He also said the district has an advisory team and advisory board that’s ready to step into the project.
“We’ve got the infrastructure in place to get this done,” Thornburgh stated. “So the request we made, we think, is a deal, so to speak. But you’re right, the funds are very, very tight at the State Revolving Funds. That’s why we’re trying to push as much as we can with letters of support to get that approved.”
Commissioners unanimously approved a letter of support.
Later in the meeting, Mike Wyrick, president of the Webster Lake Conservation Association (WLCA), said, “First of all, I’d like to thank you for your support with the Tippy-Chapman Sewer District of the Webster Lake east side sewer project. Those septic systems over on that side, many are failing and the stuff is leeching into the lake, which adds phosphorous and nutrients into the lake, which is causing a lot of problems as far as weed growth and algae is concerned.”
He said why he was before the commissioners Tuesday was because WLCA is looking into an entire lake restoration project, which is a multi-million dollar project to reduce the amount of phosphates in the lake, which help grow the algae.
“Just this past week we had our first planktonic algae bloom. If you’ve never seen one of those, the lake water turns as green as pea soup. It’s nearly as thick as pea soup, and it’s a combination smell between fresh-mowed grass and fish. We can experience more of those as time goes on,” Wyrick said.
With him was Ashlee Haviland from EutroPhrix. Wyrick said EutroPhrix was their point person on getting federal funding for the project. He also said they’ve been in touch with U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman’s office and are being considered for $1.5 million in federal funding. Wyrick said he has to find a governmental entity to receive, escrow and dispense those funds as the project proceeds. He chose the county because of past experience.
Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell said the process looks to be pretty sophisticated, but should be able to be accomplished.
Groninger asked if the process was successful elsewhere, and if the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams has been involved. Wyrick said he didn’t know what Lilly Center’s opinion was of it. Commissioner Bob Conley asked if he has contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Lakes & Streams.
Haviland said EutroPhrix is currently working with the DNR on other lake restoration projects across the state, so the DNR is aware of them and the project. EutroPhrix also has been successful across the United States in securing funds from U.S. representatives for federal appropriations for lake restorations.
She pointed out the commissioners were needed to receive the grant funds, if awarded, because WLCA is a nonprofit and therefore can’t receive them. Wyrick said the federal funds don’t require matching funds.
Groninger said he’d like some time to review the matter, and Mitchell made a motion to table it until their June 2 meeting. The motion passed.
