4-hour joint work session for Commissioners & Council, Commissioners pass resolution to dissolve Regional Sewer District

It was standing room only for Wednesday night’s joint work session between the Marshall County Commissioners and Council. The meeting lasted nearly 4 hours, and since it was a work session, no decisions or votes could be taken.

Those for and against the Marshall County Regional Sewer District project were present to hear from the government boards and the professionals who had been invited to attend the meeting.    

The first sewer project currently being proposed and developed by the Regional Sewer District is PSA-1 and commonly known as the Lakes District.  In total, there are 13 Priority Service Areas (PSA) spread across the county.

When the county’s project qualifies for funding from the State Revolving Fund, they will need to be ready to put the project out for bids within 3 to 6 months.  Ken Jones from JPR, the company hired to design the project, explained that they continue to prepare the project for bid, and that is why monthly invoices are submitted. 

If the Regional Sewer District were to obtain funding, homeowners in the Lakes District would pay for their connections to the sewer line, along with the cost to abandon their current septic tanks. Homes that have a good working septic system can be inspected by a state-certified inspector and obtain a 10-year waiver from connecting. They could qualify for two additional 5-year waivers. 

The biggest concern of those opposed to the project is the cost.  Initially, the monthly charge was estimated to be $75 to $85.  Over the years of developing the project, that estimate has increased due to inflation to $200 to $230.

The only way to reduce the monthly fee is to obtain a low-interest loan from the State Revolving Fund, and due to the opposition, the county’s project has dropped on the list to 41st.      

During the meeting, several experts, including Alice Quinn from the State Health Department, Marshall County’s Health Officer Dr. Byron Holm, and JPR, the company hired to do the research for the project and design the system, spoke to the joint work session and the public. A representative from AK Industries in Plymouth, a leading producer of products for the wastewater industry, discussed new technology that is available for septic systems.

Opponents of the Regional Sewer District have been knocking on doors in most of the 13 PSAs seeking signatures on a petition to stop the project. They have obtained nearly 800 signatures from around the county.  They say most of the people they speak to are against the sewer.  

Both sides have accused the other of scare tactics and bullying, and some people don’t want to publicly state where they stand for fear of retaliation.  

Following the joint work session, the County Commissioners held a Special Meeting and unanimously approved a joint resolution to dissolve the Marshall County Regional Sewer District.  The County Council must also pass the resolution before the county can present the resolution to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for consideration.

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon plans to personally hand the resolution to Governor Braun on August 28^th, so the Council will need to conduct a special meeting to pass the resolution.