Article submitted by James Master, The Pilot News Managing Editor
MARSHALL COUNTY — The public hearing for the proposed Regional Sewer District is set for Monday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET in Room 203 of the Marshall County Building. The public hearing will allow residents of the county an opportunity to voice their opinions about the matter.
During his report to the commissioners, Attorney Jim Clevenger explained that there have been 13 high density rural residual areas in the unincorporated areas of the county that have been identified that could be included in the district. The first priority area includes the lakes starting with Lawrence Lake, extending west to Lake Latonka including all lakes in between.
“Such an area would be very useful to try and set up a wastewater system to replace the private wastewater systems that seem to be failing and the Health Department finds to have more difficulty in second systems, soils, and that kind of thing,” Clevenger said.
After the public hearing and if the commissioners choose to go forward, Clevenger said that a petition needs to be filed. In that petition a representative must be designated. The number of trustees in the district must also be established in that petition.
“Trustees are supposed to own real property or be rate payers in the proposed areas,” said Clevenger. He also said that if the City of Plymouth’s wastewater plant or the Town of Bremen’s wastewater plant, then Plymouth and Bremen should be able to appoint a trustee.
The number of trustees range from five, seven, or nine members.
Trustee compensation was another topic that Clevenger hit on. “They would be entitled to a $50 per diem on meeting dates. Up to $50.”
All of these items can be changed after the public hearing and even after it goes to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “It all can be changed up to the point where you finally get orders from IDEM and then from the Court.”
Commissioner Mike Burroughs asked if the trustees can be changed to reflect the prioritized areas. Clevenger said yes. “As time goes on, commissioners and the council are going to need to because you have to have trustees in the actual areas that are being served.”
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer clarified that not everyone in Marshall County will be taxed for this. Clevenger stated that wasn’t the case and that it wasn’t a tax. “If the trustees decide to go forwards with a project and build a system, it’ll be a public system but it’s going to be funded and owned, really, by the district and by those people.”
After some discussion, it was voted on that Overmyer be the representative from the commissioners.
As far as the number of trustees, seven was chosen. Of that number, five would be appointed by the commissioners, one would be made by the Marshall County Council, and one made by the City of Plymouth.
Compensation was decided on. The commissioners approved $50 per diem to the trustees. Those funds would come from the sewer district.
All of these decisions are pending the passing of the district.
