Much of the discussion during August’s Tippy-Chapman Sewer District meeting focused on the East Webster project. From left are board member Bob Weaver, Board President Jeff Thornburgh, Secretary-Treasurer Kim Hathaway, board member Jacob Yahne, and board member Ed Ormsby. Screenshot from Zoom recording of meeting.

By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The Tippecanoe-Chapman Regional Sewer District board focused on finances, customer connections, and the proposed East Webster expansion during its meeting Monday, Aug. 11, at the North Webster Community Center.

Much of the meeting centered on plans to extend sewer service into East Webster.

Legal counsel, Andy Boxberger, said he would ask county commissioners to submit an application for annexation, even as the district awaits confirmation of SRF funding.

“(I’ll tell the commissioners) that we don’t know for sure yet, but we’re confident because we’re in the fundable range,” Boxberger said.

To keep the project on schedule, the board approved a resolution to loan up to $30,000 from the current district to the East Webster service area to fund surveying and preliminary engineering.

Engineering consultant, Steve Henschen of Jones Petrie Rafinski, said that without immediate work, the district would not meet the state’s March 2026 financing deadline.

“Let’s say that we find out in two weeks we didn’t get the funding,” Henschen said. “I hope that’s not the case … but we would just stop work immediately, because the rush to proceed wouldn’t be necessary at that point.”

The board also approved an initial engineering services agreement with JPR for survey work not to exceed $25,000.

Both moves ensure the district can move quickly once funding is awarded.

Two encroachment agreements were approved, allowing property owners to build near district equipment while accepting liability for potential future damage.

During public comment, East Webster resident, Ryan Sherman, expressed interest in the timeline for grinder station placement in the proposed expansion area.

Henschen explained that standards used in the Chapman service area, typically extending service 100 feet from the road, with additional costs by homeowners, would likely be applied in East Webster.

“At least in the planning portion of it,” Henschen said. “But, you know, it’s a balance. Either a customer’s paying to come up to us or we’re taking it down.”

The board confronted a recurring problem with a property owner at 244 EMS T5 whose extensive water filtration system was overwhelming his grinder pump station.

Henschen explained that backwash events were producing flows beyond the pump’s designed capacity, causing sewer backups.

The engineering committee recommended replacing the pump with a higher-capacity, Barnes two-horsepower model at a cost of about $7,000, to be paid by the homeowner.

The board approved the measure unanimously and agreed to purchase a spare pump for future backup.

“All I’m trying to explain is I was proactive in this situation trying to explain to the engineer the systems required. They kinda blew me off,” the resident said. “I can’t use my home.”

President Jeff Thornburgh emphasized the district’s responsibility to protect all rate payers.

Other Items

• Baker Tilly representative, Jeff Rowe, said the state-mandated audit for 2023 and 2024 is moving forward, with district officials meeting regularly with Crowe, the contracted public accounting firm. “We’re almost there and hoping to get that wrapped up here soon,” Rowe said, noting the goal is completion in September.
• Astbury Water Technologies reported that newly-installed “Wet Well Wizards,” air diffusion systems designed to reduce hydrogen sulfide levels, are working effectively. Average levels dropped from about 220 parts per million to 123 ppm in July.
• As of July 31, about 81% of expected permits had been issued and 72% of customer connections completed. With the Saturday, Aug. 30, deadline approaching, 346 connections remain outstanding. The board plans to discuss how to handle non-compliance cases at its September meeting. Contract warranties continue to expire. Contract A ended in July, while contracts B and C are set to close in October and December. Remaining construction includes electrical riser modifications and generator hookups.

The Tippecanoe-Chapman Regional Sewer District board next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main Street, North Webster.