SYRACUSE — The mood at the December meeting of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District turned quickly from jolly to pensive as the board moved from Christmas party mode to discussions of a $53,000 study during the Monday, Dec. 19, meeting.

The board and employees of the district celebrated the upcoming Christmas holiday at the Sleepy Owl Supper Club before the meeting, also waving a lamenting goodbye to long-time board member Larry Mock. The mood was festive as the meeting started and continued as the group discussed the completion of the $4 million S.W.A.P sewers. Each of the contractors for the four construction areas are off site and working on the final punch list items. The board also approved a $10,000 increase on its annual insurance premiums, approximately $4,500 of that due to the addition of new sewers that are part of S.W.A.P.

By the end of the evening, the board had taken on a new mood and taken up discussion of divorcing from the town of Syracuse for treatment of sewage. During the past few months, the board has seen the bills from Syracuse come in at an extreme increase compared to 2015 and have been working toward finding a solution. For Jones and Henry to provide a study on the process to move the treatment to TCRSD, the board would have to cough up a hefty $53,000. Although the board agreed this will be a necessary step, most board members also agreed the timing is not correct. “We’ve been through this four times with Syracuse Lake,” said Dick Green, attorney for the district, noting the outcome has always been the district continuing to pay Syracuse for the service.

Rex Heil, board president, expressed the board’s feelings on the matter, saying “We know that we cannot continue to pay the bills they have been submitting.” The board has received two bills from Syracuse since Jon Julian completed his rate study, and TCRSD has agreed to pay both those bills at the suggested rate of $2.02/thousand gallons of flow. TCRSD has set aside the funds to pay those in a separate account.

The board heard updates from District Superintendent Timothy Woodward and project engineer Brian Houghton. Wooward presented a request to the board to purchase extra pieces of new sewers to set aside as replacement parts. Some of the parts were specially manufactured by NIBLOCK for this exact project, but Green cautioned the board to consider the responsibilities and liabilities behind providing those parts. Woodward noted a Syracuse company, Ritter Electric, agreed to be a Zoeller pump and parts supplier for the district, meaning replacements and warranty work can be done through a local company. The district encouraged other local businesses to make themselves available for this if desired.

Green told the board he is still working on an easement with the Sudlow family in Syracuse to allow the space to place an 80-foot radio tower. He also noted the large cedar fence placed around the lift station at Vawter Park has not only been deemed an “eyesore” by local residents, but also violates zoning requirements. Houghton agreed to get a quote on removal of the fence and replacement with a chain link fence. Woodward assured the board there is an emergency plan in place if the station were to get struck by a vehicle. This was a concern expressed by many because the lift station is located on a curve that has already been the scene of several accidents over the years.

The board will meet again in the new year Monday evening, Jan. 16, at the Cromwell office.