The Marshall County Commissioners reviewed a joint resolution Monday morning that contains a petition to submit to IDEM for the possible establishment of a Regional Sewer District.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger noted that the commissioners held a public hearing on the possible establishment of a Regional Sewer District on February 21 that was well attended. Engineer Ken Jones from Jones Petrie and Rafinski presented detailed information on the proposed process and answered several questions.
Jones previously 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.
With the completion of the public hearing, Clevenger said the next step is for the commissioners to approve the prepared resolution.
Clevenger stated, “The matter gets referred to IDEM and they go through a whole process with another hearing takes place. There’s some determination then by them as to whether or not the district should be established. There’s even yet then after they make a determination some opportunity for additional process and procedure.”
Commission President Kevin Overmyer stressed that if the Regional Sewer District is formed, a seven-member Board of Trustees would be appointed to look into potential projects further. The members would likely be representatives from the Priority Service Areas and serve staggered terms.
The commissioners approved the resolution with a unanimous vote. The resolution will now go before the Marshall County Council for consideration during their meeting Monday, March 14 before it goes to IDEM for review.
