From left, Tippecanoe and Chapman Regional Sewer District Board President Jeff Thornburgh talks with Treasurer Kim Hathaway and board member Jacob Yahne at the district’s January meeting. Thornburgh and Hathaway were reelected in their roles as president and treasurer, respectively. Photo by Maksym Hart.

News Release

NORTH WEBSTER — The Tippecanoe‑Chapman Regional Sewer District took key procedural steps Monday, Jan. 12, to advance the East Webster sewer expansion, including introducing monthly user rates, approving project policies and authorizing enforcement action for long-delayed system connections.

Board members voted unanimously to introduce a $110 monthly sewer rate per equivalent dwelling unit with no connection fee for East Webster customers, with an interim construction-period rate of $60.90 per month, as required to keep the project on track for State Revolving Fund financing.

Final adoption of the rate ordinance will follow a public hearing next month.

Financial consultant Jeff Rowe of Baker Tilly presented updated cost and funding projections, placing total project costs at approximately $7.1 million, including construction, engineering, legal and administrative expenses. With a $5 million SRF bond and no connection fee included, the $110 rate meets the fund’s required debt-service coverage ratio.

Board members discussed the possibility of reducing rates in the future but agreed the conservative approach was necessary to ensure timely financing and construction.

“The safest path forward is to introduce the rate that clearly meets SRF requirements,” Rowe said, noting rates could be revisited once construction timelines and funding draws are finalized.

Updates from Jones Petrie Rafinski project engineer Steve Henschen showed the East Webster project nearing final design, with approximately 95% completion.

Easement acquisition continues to progress, with more than half of grinder-station easements secured and mainline easements largely in hand. Final permits are expected to be submitted this month, allowing financing to close in March and construction to begin in spring or early summer.

“There’s still some unknowns, but the target right now for construction looks good,” Henschen said.

Tippy-Chapman area customer connections remain a major focus. About 89% of district properties are now connected system-wide, leaving roughly 200 outstanding connections, many tied to undeveloped or recently rebuilt lots.

For Contract A customers who missed the Dec. 22 connection deadline and have not obtained permits, the board approved sending certified “notice to connect” letters, a required legal step before penalties can be imposed.

The letters will give recipients 90 days to comply.

Board President Jeff Thornburgh said the move was not punitive but necessary to ensure fairness to customers who complied with deadlines and to protect the district’s financial stability.

“I hate to be that intimidating,” Thornburgh said.

Operations manager Matt Rippey reported routine system updates, including repair of lift-station fencing damaged by a vehicle, replacement of damaged monitoring equipment and installation of locks on electrical panels to prevent tampering.

The board approved a $5,688 chemical purchase for odor-control systems at two lift stations.

“That should last us probably another five months,” Rippey said.

Financial reports showed the district ended 2025 with approximately $3.1 million in cash, maintaining reserves well above minimum requirements despite elevated project-related expenses.

January claims totaling $278,484 were approved, with portions charged to both operations and the East Webster fund.

The board also approved an updated grinder-station location policy, limiting district-funded installations to 50 feet from the right-of-way for single residences.

Property owners requesting greater distances may do so at additional cost. The policy mirrors standards used in previous district expansions.

Other Items

• Members approved a standardized just-compensation method for property acquisition related to pump station sites.

• Board president Thornburgh and treasurer Kim Hathaway were reelected.

• The board finalized meeting dates for 2026 and 2027.

A public hearing on the East Webster build-operate-transfer contract and rate ordinance will precede the board’s next meeting, scheduled to begin 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.