I have just come from a meeting of Stop The Sewer for Tippy and Chapman lakes. The following are things I have learned at this meeting and other meetings I have attended.
1. This proposed sewer system has nothing to do with the quality of the lakes. Chapman is consistently rated one of the cleanest in the state. Compare to Center and Pike lakes where they have had sewers for years; they face regular beach closings due to e coli levels.
2. Many people around the lakes are on fixed incomes and cannot afford this.
3. Costs: There are many that most people are not even aware of. Many people just think they will have to start paying a sewer bill, but you also have:
a. Cost of hook-up (could be anywhere from $1,800 up to several thousand dollars).
b. Monthly bill forever, and they can raise it on you whenever they want (as witnessed by the article in the paper recently about Warsaw’s sewer bills being raised). We have heard many numbers floating around, but they say they don’t know yet what it will be (possibly $70 to $100 a month).
c. Cost to “decommission” your current septic tank. This could involve having it removed from your yard completely, or having it crushed and filled with “acceptable” dirt. If you currently have a mound system and want it removed, you also have to have all the dirt removed as it is considered “contaminated” and new dirt hauled in.
d. They put a little box on the side of your house which has a red light on it. This is the “grinder.” If that red light goes out, you must immediately call to have someone come work on it (and you hope it won’t be a long wait as you won’t be able to use much water while it is out). If the “warranty” on your grinder has gone out, then you will be charged for the repairs on it.
e. Do you have an empty lot? You may also be charged for the septic on that lot.
f. They will start charging you a fee as soon as they start building the system, even if they don’t get the sewer system to you for maybe two or three years.
g. House newer than 10 years old? You can get a temporary exemption from hooking up once you prove that your septic is in good order, but you will still be charged the sewer bill even if you aren’t hooked up. All you will be doing is putting off tearing up your yard.
h. Can’t afford it? No problem. You can either get a loan, or they will just put a lien on your house.
Don’t like any of this? Come to the meeting at The North Webster Community Building Gymnasium on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. and voice your concerns.
