NORTH WEBSTER — The Lakeland Regional Sewer District board met for its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening, May 5, but added a few more important dates to the agenda.

During the 6 p.m. meeting at the North Webster Community Center, the board also agreed to hold another public meeting Tuesday, May 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the same area. The board will be working with DLZ project engineer Casey Erwin to develop construction standards for the new connections being added to the project. Out of 40 property owners who were interested in inserting themselves into the project at their own individual expense, under 10 have have finalized plans to do so.

The board will also be holding what it hopes to be larger public meetings in the gymnasium of the NWCC at 9 a.m. on July 23 and Aug. 27, both Saturday dates. During these meetings, contractors and homeowners can be part of contractor and engineer-lead workshops regarding the new grinder systems and what it means for property owners. Contractors can also learn the specifications set in place by the district before agreeing to any construction.

The large sewer project covering the Barbee chain of lakes is broken up into four contracted areas. Contracts A and B both belong to Seldge Construction. The board approved invoices for A and B in the amounts of $519,955.99 and $277,904 for a total of 37 and 78 percent completion rates, respectively.

Contract C, Advanced Rehab Technologies, is sitting at approximately 47 percent completion. The board approved a pay application in the amount of $642,589.50.

The wastewater treatment plant has been running about $31,000 under budget, but a large change order presented to the board turned the tables on those figures, cutting into the $300,000-plus contingency fund by $13,000. The change order had many items on it that Erwin did not discuss in detail, but let the public and board know the issues all dealt with electrical changes.

The board questioned how contractors were working to remedy situations of torn up lawns and wrecked roadways. Erwin explained that in working with contractors on the project and the county highway department, he has begun working out a system for making repairs. Although contractors are said to be repairing lawns as they work through the project, several homeowners have publicly complained about the waiting period. Erwin said all holes in roads are being patched as a temporary solution and the highway departments would be waiting until the work is complete to do any repaving or resurfacing that may be on the summer schedule.

The next regular monthly meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the NWCC Thursday, June 2.

Additional Items:

• The board agreed to leave as much room in the contingency budget as possible to help its case while requesting additional items such as asphalt drives versus stone
• Jennifer Ransbottom, JPR billing, sent out the requested liens on properties, two of which were incorrect and were rescinded.
• The state board of accounts performed an audit on the district’s records for years 2011 through 2014 at a cost of $8,928. The reports from the audit are available online through the SBOA or in the district office.
• Last month, the board voted not to rescind a late fee placed on one account, later finding it was a LRSD error. The board agreed to now rescind that charge.
• The loan with Indiana Bond Bank will be renewed on May 12 at a new rate of 1.7 percent, previously 1.95 percent.