County needs to fix sewer problem

To the editor:

I would like to thank Jay County Council for hearing our issues with Jay County Regional Sewer District in a special meeting March 15.

As we, the district and board members all know, this is a real problem and has been a growing one.

The commissioners as well as the council were put in a very tough position several years ago by Indiana Department of Environmental Management and have tried to o their best. But with questionable engineering as well as poor decisions, it has become a real problem financially.

The current district members (homeowners) are going to be paying a little over $100 per month for sewer and nothing else (trash or water). The rates will go up for sure in the future if something is not done because of maintenance fees and future city rate hikes.

The situation has caused hardships for members, with the hook-up fees, late fees, property destruction ad many other issue, especially for fixed-income members. Some members have multiple properties as well as unused properties on the system and still pay a separate full rate on each property.

I could bring up many other issues and point fingers, but the truth is it’s time for Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners to fix this problem. I believe it is the right thing to do, as this was a county problem from the start. Anyone who knows the history of this district is aware of that.

I appreciate the district board members for their tough, unpaid positions. I saw a room full of good people listening and searching for solutions.

I thank the Jay County Commissioners as well as the council members for setting the meeting and working toward a solution to resolve this issue.

Tony Lennartz

Rural Portland



Get involved

To the editor:

The second annual Dunkirk Neighborhood Crime Watch Chili Cook Off was held March 14 at West Jay Community Center with nine contestants entering.

This event, held to help raise crime watch awareness and membership, invited citizens to sample the chilis and vote for their favorite. There were prizes for first, second and third place chili.

First place was taken by Carrol Whitesell, second place by Jeremy Ring and third place by Dru Hall.

Community events such as this are simply not possible without the participation of the contestants and the sponsors. The Dunkirk Neighborhood Crime Watch group would like to extend a big thank you to the West Jay Community Center and board, Advance Auto Parts of Dunkirk, CVS/Pharmacy of Dunkirk and Miller’s Dunkirk Pantry (Marathon station) for their generous contributions and participation.

Every Dunkirk resident is invited to become involved with Dunkirk Neighborhood Crime Watch.

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Dunkirk Municipal Building. (Please use the Commerce Street entrance.)

The members of the neighborhood crime watch group encourage each resident to become involved in an effort to make our city a safer place to live and grow.

Respectfully,

Dane Mumbower

Dunkirk Police Chief