WARSAW — The Lakeland Regional Sewer District in Kosciusko County recently completed a project to provide sewer service to approximately 1,700 residents in the Barbee Lakes area.  The project took two years to complete at a cost of approximately 28 million dollars (through a combination of loan and grant funds) and became operational in March of this year. 

In 2006-2007, the Kosciusko County Commissioners and County Counsel petitioned the IDEM to form the district, in part, based on property owner encouragement.  In 2008, the district was formed, board members were appointed and the first meeting was held.  The district absorbed funds that had previously been collected by the Barbee Lakes Conservancy Sewer District and began exploration of the best solution.  After consideration was given to connecting to existing local sewer systems, the preliminary engineering report determined that the best course of action was to construct a new Wastewater Treatment Plant to serve the district. 

In 2010, the USDA issued a Letter of Condition for a loan from USDA Rural Development.  Beginning in 2011, the District began to communicate with property owners on grinder placement and obtaining easements for each connection.  In 2015, the USDA provided the district a Letter of Conditions to fund the project, and construction began.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the LRSD Plant located at 5002 N CR 100 E, Warsaw, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 21.  Among those invited to attend are Indiana state representatives, county government officials, state and federal government officials, engineering and contractor groups who directly participated in the project, as well as current and former LRSD board members. 

In addition, an Open House will be held from 9 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 22 at the wastewater treatment plant.  The public is invited to attend and tour the facility during those hours.