By DAVE SCHULTZ
The Wells County Regional Sewer District has more than 40 connections completed and liens are being filed against four users who are not timely on their payments.
Lewis Brown, the district’s superintendent, told the RSD’s board Monday night that he had been in contact with the individuals who are not current on their payments. The liens will be filed, Brown said, “on those who have said they will pay and they haven’t.”
These will be the first liens filed, Brown said. “I’ve tried to work with some people, but those days are over,” he told the board.
Brown said four contractors are working in the Liberty Center and Murray areas. Brown said the count right now is above 40 connections of the 197 connections that must be made in Liberty Center and Murray.
“People have been amazingly courteous and kind,” Brown said. On the other hand, he said, “A few people have read me the riot act.”
The board members — Andy Stoller, Leon Berning, Mike Mossburg, Jon Oman, and Bruce Stinson — also heard from Ryan Lefeld, project manager for Choice One Engineering, about progress being made in the effort to install sanitary sewer collection systems in Craigville, Tocsin, and Kingsland. Work in Craigville, Lefeld said, may be able to get started by next month. Permit approval is pending for Tocsin, Lefeld said, and he is waiting to hear about Kingsland.
Also Tuesday, Berning reported on donations that have been made to a fund through the Wells County Foundation to assist individuals who need financial assistance to connect to the system.
The township trustees in Liberty and Lancaster townships will be administering the requests, and Berning said Lancaster Township Trustee Rick Smith has handled the first request Monday.
The way the program will work is that the trustees will forward requests for assistance to Tammy Slater, the CEO of the Wells County Foundation. If approved, the checks will be written to the contractor instead of the property owner, Berning said.
The RSD sought donations through the Wells County Chamber of Commerce. As of 11:30 a.m. Monday, Berning said, seven donations had been made totaling $3,500.
Berning said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a program which will provide assistance for “very low income people,” and that the Community Care and Salvation Army have programs to assist some people with keeping current on their sewer rates.
The board also wants a storm drain on Main Street in Liberty Center lowered closer to pavement level. Brown said he determined that the top of the domed drain is 4 inches above pavement level. “That’s a lot of a car,” he said. “It would launch a motorcycle.”
daves@news-banner.com
