Marshall County residents packed the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building Monday night in order to gather more information and provide public comment on a proposed Regional Sewer District.
Ken Jones from Jones Petrie and Rafinski explained that a Regional Sewer District is a form of government that functions solely to handle drinking water, solid waste or wastewater infrastructure needs. In Marshall County, the plan only includes wastewater.
In studies of 13 unincorporated areas of the county of main concern, Jones indicated that there was poor soil compatibility with on-site septic systems, there are over 1,000 on-site systems that are undocumented, there are shallow water wells within isolation zones of nearby septic systems, and there are no viable solutions for repair or replacement of individual systems that fail. The formation of a Regional Sewer District would help alleviate those problems.
Thirteen Priority Service Areas have been identified which include, in order of priority, Latonka, Lawrence Lake and Mill Pond areas, followed by Bremen East; North Michigan area; Rushmoor Addition; Donaldson and Ancilla Domini Convent; McQueen’s Broadview; Golfview Estates; Deer Trail, Tall Oaks and Carriage Hills; South Michigan Street; Inwood; Burr Oak; Hawk Lake; and State Road 331 South Tippecanoe.
The benefits include healthier water and environment, growth for businesses that exist in the Priority Service Areas, increase in property resale values, new development, and home site flexibility for on-site improvements.
The public hearing was one of the first steps in forming a Regional Sewer District. The next step would be for the commissioners and the council to sign a petition to send to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). IDEM officials would then hold another public hearing where people would comment on the proposed project. If an order to form is issued by IDEM, which would take anywhere from 6-9 months, then the commissioners and the council will appoint a seven member board of trustees who would then direct which projects would be tackled first. Jones noted that it could be two years or longer before a project is ready for construction.
Contrary to what has been said in the public, Jones said there are no taxes imposed with a Regional Sewer District.
Jones commented, “I’ve heard some grumblings about this from people that have called in that think that somehow the Regional Sewer District is going to result in some kind of a county-wide tax or a tax at all. That is not in the purview of a Regional Sewer District. They cannot levy a tax of any kind for any purpose. They can only generate revenue based on rates and charges and it has to be an exchange for providing a service. In this case, it would be sewer service.”
Jones said it is mandatory to hook into the system, but there are exemptions available, including a recent purchase of a septic system, or enough space to install a replacement system. It will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Depending on what system is built in a certain Priority Service Area, a flat rate would be issued to all users of the system. Preliminary low figures were given at around $75-$85 a month. However, it will be up to the appointed trustees to make that rate determination.
The Marshall County Commissioners and Marshall County Council members will be looking to keep costs down as much as possible by finding loan programs and grant fund to lower the construction costs, and American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Twenty-two residents spoke during the public hearing. Many simply had questions that were answered by Jones. A few people were against the Regional Sewer District while more were in support of it. Two residents were anxious to find solutions to their individual issues with septic systems on their properties.
The commissioners will consider additional steps during their upcoming regular commissioner meetings.
More information can be found online by following this link.
