CROMWELL — Taking priority at Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District board of trustees was an outdated rate and use ordinance. Beginning at 7 p.m. at the Cromwell office, board members met to discuss and officiate the first reading of the new ordinance.

The board muddled through the necessary steps of approving the ordinance (read by title only) for public reading and publication. The second reading is scheduled to be held during next month’s regular meeting, July 19.

Brian Houghton of Umbaugh and Associates provided project updates on the large sewer project weaving through Syracuse, noting that all three contracted areas are running ahead of schedule. The three contractors for the project, NIBLOCK, Mason and Seldge Construction, were all reporting forward progress in terms of laying pipes, installing forcemains and laterals and preparing for grinder pump installation.

Following the questions of the one public member in attendance at the meeting, district superintendent Timothy Woodward laid out the process of switching from septic to sewer in the upcoming months. Woodward noted that customers in the project would receive a letter by mail notifying them of the 90-day deadline in which to connect.
He added that he didn’t anticipate any home ever losing service as the switch will be complete within the same day as long as contractors do it the way the district has outlined. Woodward anticipates that the changes will happen during the month of August.

Woodward and board trustee Robert Dumford were able to reschedule a proposed visit to the Syracuse water plant. which they recently attended. Woodward and Dumford expressed to the board that the visit was productive and informative, aiding them in a future recommendation of whether to continue to use the town for a small portion of the TCRSD services.

The board of trustees began to question this portion of the business following a monthly bill increase from Syracuse of close to $2,500. Woodward and Dumford noted that their visit to the town’s facilities made them aware of many of the updates and maintenance issues that Syracuse is currently facing.

The next monthly meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 19, and will be held at 7 p.m. at the Cromwell TCRSD office.

In other news:

Woodward received a certification as a level 2 assessment water inspector after attending a specialized course.
The district was able to monitor the effectiveness of a new PLC computer system over the Memorial Day weekend holiday and plans to follow-up again during the busy Fourth of July weekend.