By SYDNEY KENT
Residents affected by the Craigville sanitary sewer collection project are unhappy with the work, or rather lack of work, being completed.
Brandon Wright, a citizen who is unable to move into his new home until the system is running, voiced his concerns at the meeting Tuesday evening. Wright told the Regional Sewer District board he learned of the contract signed at the previous month’s meeting that would allow for $1,000 in fines to be assessed per day if work was not being completed.
“Each and every one of you is more focused on protecting the contractor than the citizens of Wells County,” Wright said. “I would like an answer.”
The answer to why fees aren’t being charged, explained Mark Burry, the attorney for the district, was that the board has the option to assess fines, however, they are also allowed to use discretion.
“We invited the contractor here tonight,” Burry said. “We wanted it to be done when it was supposed to be done. We will find out tonight what the delay is.”
Aaron Miesse of VTF Excavation LLC updated the board on the project.
Miesse first addressed the delays in Kingsland, citing emails going to spam as the reason for a three month delay. He also said AEP has “taken their leisure” to complete their end of the projects. Miesse then explained that parts have been on backorder, some for over a year.
Board member Andy Stoller asked Miesse questions to determine what exactly AEP needs. Miesse reported AEP simply needed to do the work. He then admitted at least one delay was not from AEP but VTF.
“It seems to me like we created a problem and we’re blaming AEP for not getting their act together,” Stoller said. “If we would have asked AEP they could have at least had this scheduled months ago. It seems to me there is a dependency here we need to untangle.”
Stoller asked Miesse to follow up with AEP.
Lewis Brown, the district’s superintendent, asked the board if there was a way to work with the State Revolving Fund to delay charging citizens the full rate for the new system before it was accessible.
Burry explained that it would be asking the SRF to take a big risk. However, they can talk with Baker Tilly, the accounting firm for the district, to assist with the request.
Blake Gerber, a county commissioner, was present in the audience Tuesday evening and urged the board to try to make Brown’s request a reality.
Earlier in the meeting, Ryan Lefeld, the RSD’s engineer from Choice One Engineering, presented a phase-by-phase update of each project. Lefeld also told the board he wanted to address the questions and concerns regarding Tocsin’s construction schedule.
Due to applications for funding, bid approval processes and weather restrictions, the earliest start date for the construction would begin in the spring of 2025.
“If residents are concerned,” Lefeld concluded. “I urge you to contact your legislators and push for that project to be funded.”
The county commissioners have asked how they can help get projects rolling, or if there are upfront initial costs to which they can contribute. Lefeld said they are currently working with multiple resources to produce a package so more funding options are available to them. He hopes to have updates on this at the next board meeting.
Also in the meeting:
• A motion was approved to pay the bills in the amount of $10,433.99.
• A motion was approved to change the hours of the superintendent position from part time to full time.
• Brown informed the board of a project completed in Murray for a man who was in an accident. Labor and machine time was donated and a church in Murray is working to offset the remaining costs.
sydney@news-banner.com
