Redkey expects IDEM action

Redkey’s new representatives heard sobering news about the town’s sewage plant at the first regular meeting of the year.

A separation of the town’s sewer and stormwater systems and upgrades to the plant were completed late last year, intended to prevent overflow of untreated sewage into Redkey Run by reducing flow to the plant. The town’s long-term control plan to alleviate the issue was completed on Dec. 31.

However, sewage plant operator Randy Young told council, it appears the upgrades were not sufficient. During last weekend’s heavy rain there was an overflow of sewage into the creek, which is an Indiana Department of Environmental Management violation.

“On a normal dry day down at the sewage plant, we flow between 100,000 and 150,000 gallons,” Young said. “Saturday morning we (were) flowing almost a million gallons.”

With more rain forecasted for this weekend, he anticipated another overflow situation, which he said will trigger action by IDEM. He’s not sure yet what the consequences will be, although the town will likely be fined for the violation. 

“(IDEM will) reply really quick that our long-term control plan has been violated,” Young said. “If they’ll agree to go into another long-term control plan with us, it all starts all over. All the testing, all the expenses, all that.”

The town faced several issues with the two-year project, including delays and budget constraints. 

Plans to line all of the town’s sewers to prevent stormwater infiltration were heavily cut back to save money. Only 2 miles ended up being lined, Young said, with about 10 or 11 miles left untreated. Lining those could help prevent overflow issues at the sewage plant, but would come at a price tag of at least $2 million.

Council decided to table discussion on the issue until after the town hears from IDEM about what its next steps should be.

With the start of the new year, there are three new faces on the town council: Gary Gardner, Erik Hammers and John Pierce. They replace Doug Stanley and Ted Friddle, who chose not to seek re-election, and Dave Dudelston, who lost his bid for re-election in the May primary. Randy May and Terri Taylor remain on council with three years left in their terms.

At a special meeting Jan. 1, council members were assigned to oversee town departments. Taylor, who was absent from Thursday’s meeting, was re-elected as president and will oversee the sewage and fire departments. Gardner, who was elected vice president, is in charge of the police department. May will now oversee the parks department, with Hammers and Pierce in charge of the water department and street departments, respectively.

In other business, council:

•Voted to designate $15,000 from the motor vehicle highway fund to be used as matching funds in a bid for a Community Crossings grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Clerk-treasurer Debbie James told council that Redkey Economic Development Corporation could contribute an additional $15,000 from the town’s Economic Development Income Tax fund.

•Heard that INDOT plans to pave the Indiana 67 overpass in September 2021. Council discussed implementing an ordinance prohibiting trucks from driving on town streets in anticipation of detours.

•Voted 3-1, with May dissenting, to rescind its Dec. 30 vote to move forward with purchasing a Chevrolet Tahoe for the police department. Council members indicated they would like more time to explore their different options for a third police vehicle.

•Heard a proposal from May to remove the $50 inspection fee from the town’s ordinance for sewage hookups. Council tabled the issue for further discussion in February.