July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Redkey feeling IDEM pressure (11/16/07)
Redkey Town Council
By By ROBERT BANSER-
REDKEY - Community leaders continue to meet with state officials concerning ways to prevent combined sewer overflows during times of heavy rain and melting snow.
And town council president Doug Stanley feels talks on this subject started out cordially, but that the tone is beginning to change.
"Eventually, we're going to have to battle with IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) over this - I can feel it coming," Stanley said. Initial discussions with IDEM were friendly, he said, "but now it's turning ugly."
But he said talks are continuing.
Stanley gave an update on the situation at Thursday night's council meeting, saying he is continuing to meet with IDEM representatives who want Redkey to adopt a program to separate its storm and sanitary sewers.
Redkey, like most small communities in the state, is still using combination sanitary and storm water sewers even though they are not environmentally friendly, according to IDEM standards.
Under that system, sewage combines with stormwater run-off in the sewer system.
During times of heavy rains, the combined sewers can become overloaded, sometimes causing backs-ups from manholes and toilets inside homes.
Stanley said that IDEM has recommended the town purchase a system to monitor the frequency of combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
Stanley said such a system would not solve the problem, but potentially only give IDEM more data to show how bad the situation is in Redkey.
It would cost about $22,000 to get the system up and running for the first year with monthly charges after that date, Stanley said, adding: "This basically will only tell us what we already know."
He said, "We'd be spending a lot of money to show we have a problem, and IDEM could then use the data against us."
The only real solution would be to separate the stormwater from the sanitary sewers, and that would be very expensive, Stanley explained.
Sewer department supervisor Violet Erlenbush added that basically the current sewer system is "worn out and deteriorating."
Stanley pointed out that the town is also in need of water tower and distribution system improvements and can't afford to undertake two projects of this magnitude at the same time.
In other action at Thursday's meeting, council members:
•Were told by Stanley that Redkey Police Department Sgt. Michael Daniels had submitted a letter of resignation from the department for personal reasons, effective Nov. 13. The council members voted unanimously to accept his resignation.
Stanley then asked for permission to start advertising for a replacement. This motion was also approved but not unanimously. Councilman Charles Noble cast a lone negative vote, saying he didn't think the town needed three full-time policemen and could function with two.
•Heard a request by Noble that a two-hour loading zone area sign be put in the alley by the Key Palace Theatre to allow vehicles to be parked, blocking the alley, while loading and unloading musical instruments for shows at the Key Palace.
"This will be so the police don't bother us," Noble said.
Marshal Donnie James was not present at this portion of the meeting, and Stanley said he would talk to James in an attempt to see if such a sign was necessary.
•Heard Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young report that Santa Claus would be making his annual stop at the gazebo in the downtown area to listen to local children at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23. Young said that Santa would be arriving on a fire truck and staying until he had a chance to talk individually with each of the children present.
•Were told street department employees Bill Tressler and Erlenbush are preparing equipment and stocking up on rock salt in preparation for the winter snowstorm season.
•Agreed to obtain used or reasonably priced new desks for Stanley to set up a work station for his personal computer equipment at the town hall to begin the process of organizing town ordinances into a single document. Stanley said a private service estimated this could cost the town at least $8,000, but Stanley agreed to do the work at no charge, if allowed to go at his own pace. This is a project which Redkey officials have not been able to afford for many years.[[In-content Ad]]
And town council president Doug Stanley feels talks on this subject started out cordially, but that the tone is beginning to change.
"Eventually, we're going to have to battle with IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) over this - I can feel it coming," Stanley said. Initial discussions with IDEM were friendly, he said, "but now it's turning ugly."
But he said talks are continuing.
Stanley gave an update on the situation at Thursday night's council meeting, saying he is continuing to meet with IDEM representatives who want Redkey to adopt a program to separate its storm and sanitary sewers.
Redkey, like most small communities in the state, is still using combination sanitary and storm water sewers even though they are not environmentally friendly, according to IDEM standards.
Under that system, sewage combines with stormwater run-off in the sewer system.
During times of heavy rains, the combined sewers can become overloaded, sometimes causing backs-ups from manholes and toilets inside homes.
Stanley said that IDEM has recommended the town purchase a system to monitor the frequency of combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
Stanley said such a system would not solve the problem, but potentially only give IDEM more data to show how bad the situation is in Redkey.
It would cost about $22,000 to get the system up and running for the first year with monthly charges after that date, Stanley said, adding: "This basically will only tell us what we already know."
He said, "We'd be spending a lot of money to show we have a problem, and IDEM could then use the data against us."
The only real solution would be to separate the stormwater from the sanitary sewers, and that would be very expensive, Stanley explained.
Sewer department supervisor Violet Erlenbush added that basically the current sewer system is "worn out and deteriorating."
Stanley pointed out that the town is also in need of water tower and distribution system improvements and can't afford to undertake two projects of this magnitude at the same time.
In other action at Thursday's meeting, council members:
•Were told by Stanley that Redkey Police Department Sgt. Michael Daniels had submitted a letter of resignation from the department for personal reasons, effective Nov. 13. The council members voted unanimously to accept his resignation.
Stanley then asked for permission to start advertising for a replacement. This motion was also approved but not unanimously. Councilman Charles Noble cast a lone negative vote, saying he didn't think the town needed three full-time policemen and could function with two.
•Heard a request by Noble that a two-hour loading zone area sign be put in the alley by the Key Palace Theatre to allow vehicles to be parked, blocking the alley, while loading and unloading musical instruments for shows at the Key Palace.
"This will be so the police don't bother us," Noble said.
Marshal Donnie James was not present at this portion of the meeting, and Stanley said he would talk to James in an attempt to see if such a sign was necessary.
•Heard Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young report that Santa Claus would be making his annual stop at the gazebo in the downtown area to listen to local children at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23. Young said that Santa would be arriving on a fire truck and staying until he had a chance to talk individually with each of the children present.
•Were told street department employees Bill Tressler and Erlenbush are preparing equipment and stocking up on rock salt in preparation for the winter snowstorm season.
•Agreed to obtain used or reasonably priced new desks for Stanley to set up a work station for his personal computer equipment at the town hall to begin the process of organizing town ordinances into a single document. Stanley said a private service estimated this could cost the town at least $8,000, but Stanley agreed to do the work at no charge, if allowed to go at his own pace. This is a project which Redkey officials have not been able to afford for many years.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD