Murray residents will soon be connected to new sewer lines
By DAVE SCHULTZ
There is much to be done before the work is finished, but the board of the Regional Sewer District Monday night approved the “notice to connect” letters for the residents of Murray.
Things will take a bit longer when it comes to Liberty Center, but progress is being made there, too.
Murray residents will be getting a notice to connect within the next few days, as soon as the letters can be processed. Lewis Brown, the RSD’s superintendent, told the board that construction on the sewer collection system in that community is complete and that a test has been completed.
“We actually sent dirty water to the city of Bluffton,” Brown said. He added that the test revealed a problem: A check-flow valve was installed backwards. Had that not been discovered in time, sewage would have flowed backward into the residence involved.
In Liberty Center, Indiana Michigan Power has not been able to connect electricity to the community’s final lift station. That process was scheduled for last week, but rainfall forced it to be postponed. “They’ll get there when they get there,” Brown said.
Rainfall also forced a postponement to paving plans in Liberty Center. That work is tentatively planned to be done starting next week.
When Ryan Lefeld of Choice One Engineering, the company overseeing the RSD’s current and future projects, gave his report, he said that plans are moving ahead for the Tocsin and Kingsland areas. He also said that the preliminary engineering report for those two communities had been approved by the State Revolving Fund.
Mark Burry, the RSD’s attorney, presented a number of documents that had to be signed by the board members present — Andy Stoller, Leon Berning, Mike Mossburg, and Bruce Stinson (Jon Oman was absent). The documents included the agreement with Bluffton for treatment and several technical documents such as setting internal control policies.
Tom Neuenschwander of Amstutz Insurance was also present to review the district’s insurance coverage. The rate will go up $100 for the next 12 months, he told the board.
In response to a question from Berning, Brown said he has been waiting to file liens against those who have not been paying the required amount — even though the money is not going for service, but financing. He is waiting, he said, for the delinquent ratepayers to catch up with their payments.
He said he’s been talking to them face to face.
“I feel that if we can give people a chance, if they will look me in the eye and tell me that they will try, I am willing to let them try,” he said.
Nevertheless, Brown said, he may have to file some liens within the next few days.
daves@news-banner.com
