By Chelsea Los
InkFreeNews

CROMWELL — The public received notice mid-month that Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District would be switching back to the old standby, virtual meetings, for the October talks.

During Monday night’s discussion, district superintendent Timothy Woodward revealed a COVID-positive employee was the cause for this precautionary measure.

The board joined members of the public and their attorney for the meeting, but had very little to cover.

Woodward thanked Andrew Boxberger, Carson LLP, for assisting with the COVID response plan and also reported no other employees had tested positive following the single case. Trucks and offices were thoroughly sanitized after those results were brought to the attention of Woodward. Although being short one employee slowed down a few projects, the crew has forged ahead completing the final water flush requirement for the year and submitting a lab report to IDEM that will cover the next two years.

Jeff Hersha of Jones & Henry reported engineering for the potential sewers around Lake Wawasee is currently being held up by NIPSCO. The utility company has 48 hours to provide information once requested on utility locates, yet the district has waited more than six weeks without response. Hersha plans to investigate the holdup and report back at November’s meeting.

TCRSD also received a letter requesting the district take ownership over approximately 200 customers in the Knapp Lake area who are banding together to request sewer. Should the district decide the take that on, it would be an estimated $3 million project but the sewage would not be treated at the plant. Woodward did not feel good about the opportunity, pointing out the distance between TCRSD and the actual sewer project as well as the lack of income it would provide for the district. Members of the board agreed, and settled on the decision to decline the request.

The district will meet again Monday, Nov. 16, with the intent for a physical meeting pending additional COVID precautions.