July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Estimate sought by commissioners (8/2/05)
Firm sought to provide help on sewage district
By By Mike Snyder-
Jay County Commissioners are close to picking a company to help in the early stages of forming a countywide sewage district.
But they’d like at least an estimate of how much the services will cost.
The commissioners agreed several weeks ago to form a regional sewage district that could explore a variety of options for solving sewage problems. The district would also have the authority to assess property owners for sewer systems that are constructed.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr said Monday afternoon they were leaning toward selecting Commonwealth Engineers Inc. to do the preliminary work on the process.
Commonwealth representatives Wayne Bailey and Vincent Sommers outlined the company’s scope of services and experience in the formation of sewage districts Monday morning.
Bailey, who resigned in June as Jay County Community Developer, said the district could be eligible for a grant to help defray the costs of the preliminary plan.
The commissioners said Monday afternoon they planned to ask Sommers or Bailey for a cost estimate. A similar process for the town of Mexico in Miami County resulted in a charge by Commonwealth of about $24,000.
A petition to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to form a sewage district has been prepared by Beam, Longest and Neff Consulting Engineers at no cost to the county.
The commissioners learned Monday that the petition will have to be signed by the Jay County Council. Miller plans to discuss the issue with council members on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
If formed, the Jay County Regional Sewage District would be governed by a seven-member board. That board would have the authority to assess property owners for sewer systems. The board would also have the authority to compel those whose property line is within 300 feet of a new sewer line to hook up to that line, even if their septic system is working properly.
The regional sewage district would also have the authority to establish rates for service and to issue bonds. It would not have taxing authority.
Bailey and Sommers asked the commissioners Monday for a list of areas around the county that could potentially require attention by the sewage district. The commissioners, who plan to rely on the Jay County Health Department for guidance, have previously said that the most likely targets for action would be clusters of homes in former incorporated areas or subdivisions.
The process of forming a sewage district was initiated after the discovery of several apparent failing septic systems in or near the Foxfire Addition, located on county road 125 South, west of Ind. 67.
Instead of citing the individual homeowners, IDEM cited the county, threatening it with a $25,000 per-day fine.
Also Monday, the commissioners agreed to renew a two-year contract with two rural Portland men who farm county-owned land around the Jay County Retirement Center and Jay County Highway Department.
Jim Dues and his son Brad have farmed the land on a 50-50 share basis for the past four years. There are approximately 210 tillable acres of land near the intersection of county roads 200 North and 100 East.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to hire a Muncie company to do minor repairs to the roof of the Jay County Courthouse.
McGuff Supply Co. will do the work at a price not to exceed $6,000.[[In-content Ad]]
But they’d like at least an estimate of how much the services will cost.
The commissioners agreed several weeks ago to form a regional sewage district that could explore a variety of options for solving sewage problems. The district would also have the authority to assess property owners for sewer systems that are constructed.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr said Monday afternoon they were leaning toward selecting Commonwealth Engineers Inc. to do the preliminary work on the process.
Commonwealth representatives Wayne Bailey and Vincent Sommers outlined the company’s scope of services and experience in the formation of sewage districts Monday morning.
Bailey, who resigned in June as Jay County Community Developer, said the district could be eligible for a grant to help defray the costs of the preliminary plan.
The commissioners said Monday afternoon they planned to ask Sommers or Bailey for a cost estimate. A similar process for the town of Mexico in Miami County resulted in a charge by Commonwealth of about $24,000.
A petition to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to form a sewage district has been prepared by Beam, Longest and Neff Consulting Engineers at no cost to the county.
The commissioners learned Monday that the petition will have to be signed by the Jay County Council. Miller plans to discuss the issue with council members on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
If formed, the Jay County Regional Sewage District would be governed by a seven-member board. That board would have the authority to assess property owners for sewer systems. The board would also have the authority to compel those whose property line is within 300 feet of a new sewer line to hook up to that line, even if their septic system is working properly.
The regional sewage district would also have the authority to establish rates for service and to issue bonds. It would not have taxing authority.
Bailey and Sommers asked the commissioners Monday for a list of areas around the county that could potentially require attention by the sewage district. The commissioners, who plan to rely on the Jay County Health Department for guidance, have previously said that the most likely targets for action would be clusters of homes in former incorporated areas or subdivisions.
The process of forming a sewage district was initiated after the discovery of several apparent failing septic systems in or near the Foxfire Addition, located on county road 125 South, west of Ind. 67.
Instead of citing the individual homeowners, IDEM cited the county, threatening it with a $25,000 per-day fine.
Also Monday, the commissioners agreed to renew a two-year contract with two rural Portland men who farm county-owned land around the Jay County Retirement Center and Jay County Highway Department.
Jim Dues and his son Brad have farmed the land on a 50-50 share basis for the past four years. There are approximately 210 tillable acres of land near the intersection of county roads 200 North and 100 East.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to hire a Muncie company to do minor repairs to the roof of the Jay County Courthouse.
McGuff Supply Co. will do the work at a price not to exceed $6,000.[[In-content Ad]]
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