Commissioners begin conversation to disolve Regional Sewer District Board

On Monday, Marshall County Commissioner Stan Klotz suggested starting a conversation at Wednesday night’s joint work session between the Commissioners and Council to dissolve the Regional Sewer District Board.   

He stated during the Commissioner’s meeting, “It’s become quite obvious this board isn’t going to quit spending, and in light of what we have been hearing lately, that we as a county could be on the hook for all this….. I believe it is seriously time, because of their actions, to look at disbanding this board.”

Klotz said he’s talked to some people, but he didn’t want to throw anyone under the bus. He continued, “I have strong reason to believe they are not getting a grant. It’s just not going to happen.”  The commissioner said the sewer board keeps spending money on something he doesn’t think will happen based on the grant.  Klotz also said initially the commissioners were told the monthly cost to a homeowner would be $85 to $95, but the sewer board’s information states it is now up to over $200.

Klotz indicated that Marshall County has and will continue to have property owners facing issues with their septic systems.  He said the county needs to find solutions to help the taxpayers.

Commissioner Adam Faulstich asked what the total amount the Regional Sewer Board has spent to date, and Commissioner Jesse Bohannon said it was $1.4 million at the end of May, according to Councilwoman Nicole Cox.  Faulstich asked how much the sewer board had spent when the commissioners originally asked them to consider stopping the spending of money, and Bohannon said $560,000.    

Commissioner Bohannon was supportive of Klotz’s suggestion and said, “I do think it’s time to petition the appropriate authorities, IDEM, for dissolution of the Marshall County Regional Sewer Board.”  He was also approved to meet with Governor Braun on August 28^th and submit a letter, personally to Governor Braun, asking for an introduction to Suzanne Jaworowski, the Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources, the cabinet secretary that oversees IDEM, to bring specific attention to the sewer issue in Marshall County.       

Commissioner Faulstich asked another question, “To date, for the money being spent, do we have blueprints or anything tangible other than consulting fees?”  Bohannon said the blueprints are about halfway complete. He said, “Why in the world would you want to have $800,000 worth of engineering fees for a project that they still contend that if they don’t get grants, they are not going to go forward with it. Those things are worthless unless they move forward with the project.”

Klotz said he’s seen no signs that they aren’t going forward, no matter what the cost is.  He said the commissioners can bring up the idea of a resolution during the joint work session on Wednesday.