Ken Jones from engineering firm JPR gave an update on a possible timeline of a proposed Regional Sewer District when he met with the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning. The commissioners also made a motion to make one area as a priority area.
Jones said in a previous meeting JPR was initially hired by the Marshall County Health Department to conduct a study of underserved areas of the county in terms of wastewater treatment.
During their regular meeting in mid-August, a study conducted by JPR was presented by Ken Jones which showed 15 areas of significant need where homeowners could benefit from having a sewer district. Those areas include Teegarden; Tyner; North Michigan Street area; Rushmoor Addition; Donaldson; McQueens Broadview Park; Tall Oaks, Deer Trail and Carriage Hills; Golfview Estates; Lake Latonka, Mill Pond, and Lawrence Lake; South Michigan Street area; Burr Oak; Hawk Lake; Inwood; State Road 331 (Tippecanoe Area); and a subdivision in Bremen.
He explained that a draft petition for the formation of a Regional Sewer District has been presented for comments.
“The next step will be to come back to you with that completed petition, present the materials one more time, have the commissioners decide whether that petition should be signed and submitted and we’ll do the same with the county council,” stated Jones.
Following that, a public hearing will be held on the local level and those comments are included in the preliminary engineering report.
Jones continued, “Following that we must notify all of our municipal entities that operate sewer systems within the county that the commissioners are planning this. We also tell them at the same time that we are respectful of their needs to grow and those types of things and those communications we’ll help you with. Following that public hearing and the notice to municipalities we’ll be presenting the petition for signature by the commissioners and the council.”
IDEM officials will review the submission, develop a preliminary finding of fact and then hold a second public hearing to gather more comments concerning the proposed Sewer District. A draft order is submitted to the IDEM commissioner and he could sign paperwork developing the district after more possible investigation and comments from legal counsel. The Marshall County Commissioners and Marshall County Council will populate the board with appointments, which could include customers and a member that holds technical expertise, and there could be another authority to have representation, possibly the Mayor of Plymouth, depending on the number of representatives the commissioners decide to be on the board.
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to make Lake Latonka, Mill Pond and Lawrence Lake a priority area. Jones mentioned that he would include that as an initiating project, but the decision will ultimately be up to the Regional Sewer District Board.
“Even though you might recommend something to be included in the PER [preliminary engineering report] that is developed and submitted to IDEM, the actual selection of projects will happen at the direction of the trustees once they’re appointed to the Regional Sewage District Board,” said Jones.
If the timeline holds, the district could be formed in spring of 2022.
Several residents from the Tyner area spoke out during the meeting with continued concerns about a proposed sewer district in that area.
