Milford resident Ken Long, standing left, asked Camp Mack Director Gene Hollenberg, standing right, if Camp Mack was willing to pay $265,000 of the proposed sewer line running from Milford to Camp Mack. Hollenberg replied it was too early to know what Camp Mack’s fair share will be. “There are still too many questions.” (Photo by David Hazledine)

MILFORD — Milford Town Council’s monthly meeting Monday, May 14, was held at Camp Alexander Mack, two miles away from its usual town hall locale. Approximately 40 people were present to hear discussion of a possible extension of Milford’s sewer to Camp Mack, which could affect residents owning 65 parcels of land — 51 homes and 14 vacant lots — located along CR 1150N and Camp Mack Road.

Guest speakers included Ryan Brauen, Wessler Engineering, who recapped a presentation of the feasibility study commissioned by the council; Bob Weaver, Kosciusko County Health Department administrator, who fielded questions from residents concerned about being forced to connect to the sewer and Scott Gingerich, RE/MAX real estate associate. Gene Hollenberg, Camp Mack director, also fielded questions.

Brauen’s slide show gave an overview of two possible plans: extending service to Camp Mack only, using a 2-inch pipe at a cost of $350,000; and extending service to Camp Mack and the 65 parcels along the way, which would require a 3-inch pipe, raising the price to $380,000.

Following the presentation, Gingerich spoke briefly about his experience with properties on the recently completed Barbee Lake chain sewer system.

Those properties, said Gingerich, as a whole, experienced a rise in value “far above the market average,” roughly 17 percent compared to the average 10 percent.

He added there is a current lack of building inspectors in Kosciusko County checking septic systems, many of which may not be up to current codes, specifically those concerning the distance from well to tank. Gingerich related hearing of deals stopped because appraisers checked such outdated septic systems.

Following Gingerich, a number of residents were given the opportunity to ask questions and address the officials and speakers present.

Milford resident Ken Long challenged Hollenberg on how much Camp Mack would be willing to pay, asking the camp director what he thought constituted a “fair share” and suggesting it should be $265,000 due to the camp’s usage.

Hollenberg responded it was too early to say what that would be. The scenario in which a 2-inch pipe only servicing Camp Mack was built, he said, would require the camp to pay a “higher percentage.” However, if other residents were tapping into the 3-inch pipe, and the town was collecting fees, he said, “We’re not just going to give it to the town.”

Some present expressed the opinion Camp Mack should help pay for the $8,500 feasibility study. The town did the study “for their own protection,” Hollenberg maintained, and Camp Mack did not ask for it to be done.

Later, Doug Ruch, council president, explained the study was paid for by revenue from the riverboat gambling fund, not area taxpayers. He added the study was important for “future growth” regardless of the proposed Camp Mack extension. “We own it, we had the study done,” he stated.

Long also asked Hollenberg if Camp Mack was pursuing other options, to which Hollenberg answered in the affirmative. Other options include building its own package plant and finding other possible leach fields. Camp Mack, he said, was doing its own study, and would soon know more about what those other options are.

Ronda Neibert, a resident in the Camp Mack area, who, with Long and others had addressed the council at previous meetings, reiterated there were no problems with the quality of Waubee Lake’s water, a response to some concerns about the effects of septic systems on water quality in other areas necessitating the change from septic to sewer.

Neibert also touched on an issue which could effect the town’s decision-making process. In order for the 3-inch pipe to be feasible, a minimum of 16 properties would need to tie in to regularly flush the system. A survey circulated among residents asking if they would tie in to the sewer will play a role in the council’s thinking. This may have been mitigated, however, by Hollenberg’s statement Camp Mack may be able to provide the occasional flushing necessary.

Joellen Free, town clerk, noted following the meeting she was approached by a number of residents in favor of the sewer who did not speak because of the negatively charged atmosphere.

Another nettlesome topic is state laws requiring those near a sewer line to tie in. The cost for doing so, according to Brauen, would be between $10,000 and $14,000, which includes the grinder unit and directional drilling.

Ed Kinney of Camp Mack Road explained, “My fear is the state mandate supersedes the county.”

As he has previously indicated, Weaver said the county code requires someone within 100 feet of a sewer line to tie in only if their septic system fails. As for the state trumping county rules, Weaver said this has never been a problem in the past. Town Attorney Jay Rigdon agreed with Weaver, saying he had “never seen a situation where the state said ‘you have to stop what you’re doing.’”

Some who addressed the council questioned whether it had enough money to pay for the project, including Pam Dwyer of Camp Mack Road who stated the town is more than $2 million in debt. She was referring to the $1.5 million loan — plus eventual interest — acquired by the town to pay for state-mandated wastewater plant renovations.

Ruch responded, “It has to be profitable or the town will not engage in it.” He added user rates would be kept as low as possible. Council member Dan Cochran agreed more funds was part of the reason for running the sewer line.

Kinney suggested the town look elsewhere to find more customers for its utilities, annexing other areas around town possibly more amenable to the idea.

Rigdon answered the rules for annexation have become so strict it is virtually impossible without the entity first approaching the town, much like Camp Mack did.

As Ruch put it, “The point is Camp Mack did reach out to us and we’re exploring that option.”