NORTH WEBSTER — “We can see the end of the tunnel,” said Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board of Trustees member Bob Sanders at a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 17, at the North Webster Community Center.

The special meeting was held because asphalt plants close in the next month due to weather, and the board couldn’t wait until its next regular meeting to approve change orders ensuring the completion of drainage features at the nearly completed waste treatment facility.

William Boyle Jr., an engineer with DLZ, was on hand to present the board with four change orders totalling $23,087, all of which were approved.

The first order allowed $11,484 in asphalt to create V-shaped swales controlling drainage along the new access roadway. “No run-off will end up on farmers’ property,” said Boyle. The drainage will direct run-off north to the Van Curen Ditch near Pierceton and south to CR 100N. Grass will also provide erosion control and help capture waste material.

The remaining three orders included $3,677 to improve drainage of the blower building, $4,884 to improve a flat area around the administration building and $3,042, which is primarily to provide electricity to the heat tracing along grinder station pipes to prevent freezing.

Sanders questioned Boyle on the potential for contamination from the run-off around the plant. Boyle explained the grass in the swales would “capture material before it reached the creek.”

Board President Jim Haney expressed concern the stormwater permit came from Kosciusko County instead of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “Typically IDEM does this,” he commented. Boyle replied the county’s approval was sufficient.

The board also approved the $100 deposit to Century Link for telephone and internet to be connected through underground conduit. The address given to Century Link is 5002 E. 100N.

Additionally, Boyle informed the board of a successful generator test at the plant. “There were no glitches whatsoever,” he stated, adding he stood at the entrance and could not hear the generator.

In the middle of November, said Boyle, there will be another test, after which the equipment will be “put to sleep” before it is started again, possibly in April, when the thaw brings flow to the plant.

Finally, the board heard of a proposal from Jones Petrie and Rafinski, a land surveying company, to provide utility locates for LRSD properties. Astbury Water Technology has also submitted a proposal. The board cannot take action yet and will “keep its fingers crossed,” said Haney, in the hopes it does not need any locates until the matter is settled.

In the meantime, locate contracts will have to be worked out in a case by case basis.