Petri representatives Jennifer Ransbottom, left, and Steve Henschen talk at the Monday, May 12 Tippy-Chapman Sewer District meeting. The district continued to wait for USDA approval on a change order, approved for a citizen’s annexation process to begin and reported slowed connections for April. Photo by Maksym Hart.

By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

The Tippecanoe-Chapman Sewer District met Monday, May 12, to discuss connection updates, U.S. Department of Agriculture spending approval and annexation of a single property.

Board member Kim Hathaway reported a strong financial position for the month, with just over $3 million in cash reserves.

“Which is $1.6 million over million recommended reserves, so we’re in a strong position,” she said.

Astbury representative, Matt Rippey explained that heavy rain Wednesday, April 2 through Friday, April 4, had caused a flow increase of around 52%.

“That’s not terrible. I mean, even for a low-pressure sewer system that’s fairly common,” Rippey said.

Rippey noted a few areas, mostly low plain areas, were covered in surface water, but added that flooding vulnerability could be addressed by tightened grinder-station lids.

“(For) others we’ve identified, let’s get some flood-plain kits,” he said.

The board discussed flooding issues in the Steuben County area, for instance, where district officials sent out letters reminding customers that sump pumps cannot be tied into the sanitary system. Though rain greatly increases flow, connecting a sump pump to the system can overwhelm it.

“When you have a sump pump pumping in 30 gallons a minute, you’re usually going to cause issues with your grinder, cause of the alarm,” said Rippey.

Customer connections continued to increase in April, though at a slower rate compared to previous months. Jones Petrie Rafinski reported 119 new connections in April, with 23 in Chapman Lake’s Contract A, 49 in Tippecanoe West’s Contract B, and 47 in Tippecanoe East’s Contract C.

Inclement weather at the month’s beginning was credited for the slower adoption, but the board noted overall numbers were at 64% permits approved and 53% connections completed.

There are still 165 connections yet to be made for Contract A, 345 for Contract B, and 350 for Contract C.

“Just as a reminder, we did send out letters for both Contract A and B … All the deadlines are now just lined up at the same date of Friday, July 13,” said board President Jeff Thornburgh.

The district’s use of remaining funds for its USDA contract, originally proposed to include a maintenance building, is now being processed by the USDA. The change order covered various miscellaneous items totaling about $391,000, with “an additional $20,000 to account for any potential pricing increase,” said Thornburgh.

If the change order is approved, the district will tell its contractor to begin ordering parts and performing the additional diligence.

Other Developments

• Proposed developments for Tippy Heights were reported as approved — merely needing an item construction permit — while the Oaks development project has received its item construction permit and is being discussed with the developer and contractor.

• The Happy Landing development has been completed, with individual lot owners submitting section one permit approvals to build there.

• Chapman Lake resident, Dylan Gobal, who resides just over the district border, successfully petitioned to begin annexation to the sewer district. Gobal’s septic tank had recently failed, causing flooding in his basement. If the district gives final approval at next month’s meeting, Gobal will pay for a grinder station and receive connection to a nearby line on his side of the street.

The Tippy-Chapman Sewer District will meet next at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 14.