July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Sewage district to be formed (7/19/05)
County moving forward with plan that could be solution for Foxfire, other areas
By By Mike Snyder-
Plans to solve a problem with inadequate septic systems for a group of homes southwest of Portland — and possibly all over Jay County — are moving forward.
Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to begin the process of forming a regional sewage district that would cover all unincorporated areas of the county.
A petition to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which regulates the formation and operation of the districts, will be prepared for the county at no cost by Beam, Longest and Neff Consulting Engineers of Indianapolis. The company hopes to be hired by the county for more work on the process in the future.
The driving force behind the process was the discovery of several apparent failing septic systems in or near the Foxfire Addition, located on county road 125 South, west of Ind. 67.
Last year, local officials and an official from IDEM observed what appeared to be raw sewage flowing from a tile near Foxfire into a ditch just north of the Salamonie River.
The county, not the individual homeowner(s), was cited and threatened with a fine if the situation was not corrected.
The regional district could explore a variety of options for solving sewage problems, including construction lines that would carry the waste to a municipal treatment plant.
The district would also be eligible for low interest loans that could translate into large savings on interest payments.
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.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Faron Parr and Gary Theurer would likely sit on the district board along with four appointed members.
Miller said Monday that he felt it was smarter to include the entire county in the application to avoid repeating the process over and over.
“Next thing you know you’ll have five (districts) instead of just one,” Miller said.
The most likely targets for action by the sewage district, if formed, would be clusters of homes in former incorporated areas or in subdivisions.
Some examples cited by the commissioners and their attorney Brad Burkett Monday included Southtown Place, about a mile south of Portland; Sheffer Acres East, located on Ind. 26 about five miles east of Portland; Lutes Addition, on county road 200 South about 1.5 miles west of U.S. 27; and the former towns of Bellefountain, New Mount Pleasant and Collett.
Also Monday, the superintendent of the Jay County Highway Department asked the commissioners for their support in raising the pay of highway department truck drivers.
Ken Wellman said that Jay County drivers are paid approximately $10 an hour to start, while drivers for Adams, Wells and Blackford counties all begin near or above $13 an hour.
“They’re not being paid what (drivers in other counties) are paid,” said Wellman, who said that the top of Jay County’s scale, reached after 11 years on the job, is equal to the starting scale in several other area counties.
The commissioners said they sympathized with Wellman’s case, but deferred to the pay plan established and administered by Jay County Council.
“You need to talk to the council,” Theurer told Wellman.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Hired a company to begin repairs on the parapet wall on the west and south sides of the courthouse. Atlas Building Services of Wabash will clean and repair the mortar on the uppermost portion of the building at a cost of $24,137.
Several leaks have been discovered in the offices of Jay Superior Court, which are located on the southwest corner of the third floor of the courthouse.
“If we’ve got a problem up there, I’d like to address it before winter,” Miller said after discussing quotes with courthouse superintendent Roger McBride.
Work will begin in several weeks. The work will be paid for out of the county infrastructure fund, which is generated through a host fee paid to the county by Jay County Landfill owner/operator Waste Management.
•Agreed to repair a large overhead door at a county-owned annex building at 215 W. Main St. The two lowest panels on the 14-foot by 14-foot door have rotted. The repair will cost approximately $1,100. Other options discussed with McBride included replacing the door with a new steel door or putting up a new smaller door.
•Passed a resolution to charge a fee for access via the Internet to certain information such as property record cards. That information is not currently on the county’s Geographic Information System but will be added soon. Plexis Group, which hosts the county GIS, will administer the fee-based information and will receive 50 percent of all fees paid.[[In-content Ad]]
Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to begin the process of forming a regional sewage district that would cover all unincorporated areas of the county.
A petition to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which regulates the formation and operation of the districts, will be prepared for the county at no cost by Beam, Longest and Neff Consulting Engineers of Indianapolis. The company hopes to be hired by the county for more work on the process in the future.
The driving force behind the process was the discovery of several apparent failing septic systems in or near the Foxfire Addition, located on county road 125 South, west of Ind. 67.
Last year, local officials and an official from IDEM observed what appeared to be raw sewage flowing from a tile near Foxfire into a ditch just north of the Salamonie River.
The county, not the individual homeowner(s), was cited and threatened with a fine if the situation was not corrected.
The regional district could explore a variety of options for solving sewage problems, including construction lines that would carry the waste to a municipal treatment plant.
The district would also be eligible for low interest loans that could translate into large savings on interest payments.
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.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Faron Parr and Gary Theurer would likely sit on the district board along with four appointed members.
Miller said Monday that he felt it was smarter to include the entire county in the application to avoid repeating the process over and over.
“Next thing you know you’ll have five (districts) instead of just one,” Miller said.
The most likely targets for action by the sewage district, if formed, would be clusters of homes in former incorporated areas or in subdivisions.
Some examples cited by the commissioners and their attorney Brad Burkett Monday included Southtown Place, about a mile south of Portland; Sheffer Acres East, located on Ind. 26 about five miles east of Portland; Lutes Addition, on county road 200 South about 1.5 miles west of U.S. 27; and the former towns of Bellefountain, New Mount Pleasant and Collett.
Also Monday, the superintendent of the Jay County Highway Department asked the commissioners for their support in raising the pay of highway department truck drivers.
Ken Wellman said that Jay County drivers are paid approximately $10 an hour to start, while drivers for Adams, Wells and Blackford counties all begin near or above $13 an hour.
“They’re not being paid what (drivers in other counties) are paid,” said Wellman, who said that the top of Jay County’s scale, reached after 11 years on the job, is equal to the starting scale in several other area counties.
The commissioners said they sympathized with Wellman’s case, but deferred to the pay plan established and administered by Jay County Council.
“You need to talk to the council,” Theurer told Wellman.
In other business Monday, the commissioners:
•Hired a company to begin repairs on the parapet wall on the west and south sides of the courthouse. Atlas Building Services of Wabash will clean and repair the mortar on the uppermost portion of the building at a cost of $24,137.
Several leaks have been discovered in the offices of Jay Superior Court, which are located on the southwest corner of the third floor of the courthouse.
“If we’ve got a problem up there, I’d like to address it before winter,” Miller said after discussing quotes with courthouse superintendent Roger McBride.
Work will begin in several weeks. The work will be paid for out of the county infrastructure fund, which is generated through a host fee paid to the county by Jay County Landfill owner/operator Waste Management.
•Agreed to repair a large overhead door at a county-owned annex building at 215 W. Main St. The two lowest panels on the 14-foot by 14-foot door have rotted. The repair will cost approximately $1,100. Other options discussed with McBride included replacing the door with a new steel door or putting up a new smaller door.
•Passed a resolution to charge a fee for access via the Internet to certain information such as property record cards. That information is not currently on the county’s Geographic Information System but will be added soon. Plexis Group, which hosts the county GIS, will administer the fee-based information and will receive 50 percent of all fees paid.[[In-content Ad]]
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