District Administrator Lichelle Parker, left, gets some documents signed by Jim Haney, president of
Lakeland Regional Sewer District, at its Wednesday, Nov. 15 meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — An update on the ferric chloride project was given at the Lakeland Regional Sewer District board of trustees meeting Wednesday, Nov. 15.

The project will be paid for using The American Rescue Plan Act funds. Joe Cleland, a board member, praised county commissioners and county council for funding the project. Both the county commissioners and county council approved the ARPA funding.

“I’d like to thank the county commissioners and council for granting us the ARPA funds to pay for the ferric chloride project,” Cleland said.

The cost of the ferric chloride project is $100,000 and with the purchase of dewatering equipment the total funds for both projects is $250,000.

Casey Erwin of DLZ gave the engineering report on the ferric chloride project. Haskins Underground must perform a final retest with water prior to releasing for usage.

“The contractor is moving forward,” he said. “I emailed the contractor and he said he will be here tomorrow (Nov. 16).”

In other news, the financial report was presented by Treasurer Mike DeWald.

“We are spending a lot,” he said.

Most of the costs are mainly maintenance; however, he said, that money will come back to the district for the ferric chloride project.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts five-year audit is still on going, without any feedback yet.

Resignations were given by board members Emily Shipley and Rosa Ritchie. Mark Koehler replaces Ritchie; however, he was not at the meeting. A trustee board member is needed to fill Shipley’s vacant position.

A rate reduction request was debated for a property owner. It was approved, per a district ordinance, for a temporary time period. The customer was seeking a permanent reduction, which the board denied.

The LRSD Treatment System Operations Report was issued to board members by Astbury Water Technology, Inc., which also gave the pump and panel inventory report.

A customer protocol reminder was set in place. Electricity and breakers must be kept on if the homeowner is not residing at the premises and must not be turned off. It is needed to operate the plant efficiently and not cause damage to the plant’s equipment.

Future test plans for commercial customers was approved by the board. A visual inspection will be conducted at two Barbee Lake business establishments instead of monthly grease sample testing, since the two businesses are now in compliance. The inspections will be conducted starting Friday, Dec. 1.

A cost of up to $46,000 plus $1,500 was approved to repair lift station one. Astbury will oversee the construction of the project.

In other news:

• A request to rescind a late payment fee for a homeowner at 15 EMS B59 was approved.

• A damage dispute for a home owner at 174 EMS B33 was denied.

• Cleland was named vice president until Dec. 31. Election of officers will be done at the January meeting.

• Heard the employee handbook is being worked on and will be ready by the December meeting.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the district’s office in Warsaw.