The Marshall County Regional Sewer District members continue preparations to begin a sewer project.
Continue readingMarshall County Regional Sewer District to Meet Tonight
The Marshall County Regional Sewer District members will meet tonight to discuss several items as they begin to review possible projects.
Continue readingMarshall County Regional Sewer District Holds First Meeting
The Marshall County Regional Sewer District members held their first meeting Tuesday morning.
Continue readingMarshall County Regional Sewer District to Meet Today
The Marshall County Regional Sewer District will meet for the first time today where they will organize and take care of initial business.
Continue readingMarshall County Commissioners Discuss Funding Request for Regional Sewer District
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed a funding request for the Regional Sewer District during their recent meeting.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management approved Marshall County’s petition to create a Regional Sewer District in late 2022. The 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. The District will focus on 13 priority service areas.
Marshall County Regional Sewer District Chairman Thomas McFadden initially presented a funding request to the commissioners in June to assist with start-up costs with the retention of an engineer, financial advisor, and legal expert in the field in order to give the Sewer District Board of Directors a direction. The commissioners recommended that McFadden speak to the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) committee for securing APRA funding up to $125,000 for the proposed start-up costs. Part of the cost was for legal fees for the creation of the District in the amount of $16,925 which the committee did support. The committee members thought that taxpayer money should not be used for this purpose as the district should be funded by user fees.
McFadden explained to the commissioners that his understanding of ARPA funding was that it was federal grant money and its initial focus was to go toward water and wastewater infrastructure and broadband. He also noted several concerns.
McFadden stated, “What really concerns me is that at some point we have septics that fail it’s going to harm the health, but it’s also going to harm the economy of Marshall County. I’m concerned that to outsiders – businesses and prospective future residents we won’t appear to be an attractive place to live. I was just a little frustrated by the process.”
The committee thought maybe a loan could be done with county funds with repayment in time, but Auditor Angie Birchmeier said she would need to discuss the process, if it can be legally done, with the State Board of Accounts.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer stated he was still inclined to take the start-up money from the county’s ARPA funding which was echoed by Commissioner Michael Burroughs. Overmyer commented that he did not believe the county should be in the “banking business”.
Commission President Stan Klotz said that he agreed that the start-up costs should be spent with ARPA funds, but questions future spending on projects in the district as time goes on. Overmyer said he thought the first project would help future projects in the district.
Overmyer made a motion to send the recommendation to the Marshall County Council to spend ARPA funding for the start-up costs for the Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
“On top of that motion, I’m just going to add at the end of that motion that if they don’t approve this, then I’m not taking another plan to the ARPA Committee,” commented Overmyer. “We can just send the money back to the federal government at the end of 2024. I’m not in favor of spending any more money out of ARPA until they are funded.”
Burroughs seconded the motion. Klotz commented that he simply supported the funding request. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The council will consider that appropriation during their August meeting.
Later in the meeting, the commissioners did unanimously approve a motion to pay the legal fees of $16,925 out of ARPA funds which was recommended by the ARPA committee.
Marshall County ARPA Committee Meets to Discuss Funding Requests
The Marshall County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Committee members met Tuesday morning to consider funding requests for the Fund the Essentials 2 campaign, as well as start-up costs for the Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
Continue readingMarshall County Commissioners Taking Applications for Regional Sewer District Board
The Marshall County Commissioners are currently accepting applications from residents for five seats on the Marshall County Regional Sewer District Board. They will be reviewing those applications and interviewing trustees soon.
Continue readingMarshall County Commissioners Looking for Candidates to Populate Regional Sewer District Board
Now that the Marshall County Regional Sewer District has been officially approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the next action is to populate the Regional Sewer District Board.
Continue readingMarshall County Commissioners Receive Update on Regional Sewer District
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger updated the Marshall County Commissioners last week that there may be a petition against the newly approved Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
Continue readingIDEM Takes Public Comments on Proposed Marshall County Regional Sewer District
Representatives from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management took public comments in a hearing Wednesday evening on the proposed Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
Continue readingPublic Comments on the Proposed Regional Sewer District to be Taken Wednesday, October 19
Residents wanting to provide comments about the county’s proposed Regional Sewer District to Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials will have a chance to do that Wednesday, October 19.
Continue readingPaperwork Filed Concerning Marshall County Regional Sewer District Petition
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger told the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning that the Regional Sewer District petition has been filed with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Continue readingPublic Hearing Set for Marshall County Regional Sewer District
A public hearing is set for Monday, February 21 at 6 p.m. ET concerning the establishment of a Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
Continue readingMarshall County Commissioners Discuss, Approve Resolution to Establish a Regional Sewer District
The Marshall County Commissioners considered a resolution Monday morning concerning the establishment of a Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
Continue readingResidents Continue to Ask Commissioners about Proposed Marshall County Regional Sewer District
Residents from the Tyner and Teegarden areas continue to provide questions to the Marshall County Commissioners concerning a proposed Marshall County Regional Sewer District.
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