Timothy Woodward demonstrates how flushing the water systems for iron will take place. The district is hoping to add two flush hydrants to the worst areas for iron to assist in the process.

CROMWELL — As Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District forges ahead with a sewer reversal project, the board took time Monday evening, Jan. 21, to elect the newest officers as well as plan ahead for the upcoming changes to the water and sewer facilities. During the month of November, the current board president Rex Heil made it clear the December meeting would be his final as president.

Heil has served 21 years on the board, nine of those as president, and will continue to serve on the board.

Taking Heil’s place, board members nominated Jim Boone. Robert Dumford was nominated for the position of vice president with Don DeWitt serving as the secretary treasurer. Boone is relatively new to the board, having been added in 2015. Dumford has served on the board since 1992.

Under the direction from newly elected president Boone, the district reviewed updates on the pending agreement from the town of Syracuse that includes a change in rate from $2.02 per thousand gallons to $2.76, as well as a payment to the town in the amount of $140,000. These pending terms will end a long, difficult chapter of disagreement between the two districts. It is expected to be finalized in early February.

While the board works with their attorney, Andrew Grossnickle, to finalize the agreement, the district has begun preparing for an additional 100,000 gallons of flow per day when the reversal is complete. Under the leadership of district superintendent Timothy Woodward, incoming sewage is being treated to lower levels of the natural bacteria buildup inherent to raw sewage. Lowering the base level of these bacteria will allow the district a buffer when the additional flow begins, and ensure some safety net for treating the sewage. In preparation for the treatment, Woodward reviewed 18 years of bills from Syracuse to compare current phosphorous levels to the flow being treated outside the district.

The district will meet again at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18.

In other news:

The district has completed the installation of the 21 flow dishes in manholes to prevent stormwater from entering the sewer system.

A leak at the water plant has prompted discussion of replacing the shingles on the roof (installed 1997) with a metal roof.

Woodward has proposed installing two flush hydrants to assist in treating iron buildup in water. He will begin researching right of ways for the best locations to place the hydrants.