Tyner residents raise questions concerning sewer project
During the public comment section of the Marshall County Commissioners, residents from Tyner spoke out against involving the Tyner and Teegarden areas in the proposed regional sewer district project.
Tim Kazanecki spoke first, asking about the progress on the project and if they are taking samples. County attorney Jim Clevenger stated that the project isn’t at that phase yet.
“You have to establish the district before you do anything like that,” he said. “We’re in the early, early stages.”
“We’re not even anywhere close to anything,” said Commissioner Kevin Overmyer.
Kazanecki then asked how districts are established. Clevenger replied that there’s a process that has to be followed including public notices and public hearings.
“This board is going to have to form a sewer board,” Overmyer said. “and that’s probably not going to happen until next year. and then that’s when the questions can come to the sewer board.”
The next resident to speak is Julie Spitznagle. Her first question was about a map of areas that had been posted on the Board of Health’s website for sewer districts. She said that there was also a list of places that has been determined to be in need of sewers.
“Where does that come from if Mr. Clevenger stating that isn’t done yet, then why is that something that’s on the Board of Health website?” asked Spitznagle.
Clevenger replied that those “were priority areas that were set out by Ken Jones, the engineer, and doing a study initially to determine whether there was even a need to have a regional sewer district. and he did that in conjunction with the Health Department.”
Spitznagle asked him what they based those recommendations on. He replied that there was a lengthy report that included the number of landowners in a particular area, problems with private sewer systems. She asked how she could obtain a copy of that report. Clevenger stated that the report hasn’t been made public, but it will be in the future. When asked,
he didn’t have an exact date.
“I think you may be as tired as we, as citizens, are tired of asking questions and not getting any answers to those questions. So the more forthright, or the sooner we could see those, or be advised, or know would certainly be helpful for all of us,” said Spitznagle.
Clevenger told her that he would ask Jones and the Health Department if they had any objections to having that report released.
“They basically went to the areas where there is a grouping of properties that have their own private sewer systems. And in conjunction with the Health Department, looked at situations that could use some improvement,” said Clevenger.
Spitznagle asked if Jones would be the same engineer to install the systems. “It might be the same engineer that may design the systems.”
“But he won’t install them. That will be contracted out,” said Overmyer. Clevenger added that work would only be done once a board authorizes it.
“So, right now he’s just kind of advocating for himself to do further work,” Spitznagle said.
She asked if there would be a waste treatment facility. Clevenger said that was still under consideration. When she asked about what entity would consider it, Clevenger said that no decision has been made concerning that.
“I think the plan is to try and connect, where feasible, to existing wastewater facilities. In some instances that’s going to be somewhat difficult so they’re looking into possible other kinds of ways to assist,” said Clevenger.
“Well, obviously the Town of Lapaz thinks that Teegarden area is going to be tied into their system because they discussed that and already made plans for that to be done. So there has to be a plan somewhere for them to know that,” Spitznagle said.
Clevenger said that Ken Jones may have that as an option, but he wasn’t sure. “I know that there are multiple options for Teegarden and Tyner that are being considered.”
“Well you better let the Town of Lapaz know because they already have in the minutes of their meetings that’s going to be done and what they’ll need to do with their system for that to occur,” Spitznagle said.
“I don’t know why they would take those steps,” replied the county attorney.
Spitznagle asked Clevenger if he would have a problem meeting to discuss the engineer’s report to which he said that would be fine.
“The more information you can provide, at this point, the better off we will be. I mean, I want to know if there’s going to be a big [expletive]hole next to me, on the property next to me. And the way that the county is putting forth these variances and special use permits, I don’t know what to expect from that anymore. Because regardless of what the public input is, there is disregard for that, and even up to and sometimes including a violation of their own ordinances and laws that we have for that,” she said.
Spitznagle had another question which was about the economical development plan for Polk Township and whether or not it ties in with the sewer project. Overmyer said that question would be under the purview of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).
Commissioner Stan Klotz stated that he sits on the MCEDC board and he has not heard anything about the economic development of Polk Township.
She then raised questions about the engineering firm. “If this engineering firm is here advocating to do this stuff, and it’s shown that they do it when the systems they put in aren’t even operable after we invest all this money for a supposed need, how do we track that and follow that so that doesn’t happen in Marshall County?”
The county attorney clarified that it wasn’t the engineering firm that initiated the process in the county. “The engineering firm is not advocating the use of all this. The Health Department was the agency that started this concern. They’re concerned about water, they’re concerned about private sewer systems that are failing throughout the county. So all of this was initiated by your Marshall County Health Department. They didn’t want you sitting by a facility that was either going to cause a problem with your water or cause problems with your health. That’s the body that started all this.”
Spitznagle asked if Ken Jones was related to any of the Jones’ located in the county. Clevenger said no.
Spitznagle had one last question.
“Are you guys aware of what your attorney was stating or is he the only one with the knowledge? Or does the three of you have all the knowledge that he has?”
“He’s probably been a bit more involved in discussions with Ken,” said Overmyer.
“So an employee has more information than the ones that will be making the decision,” she replied.
They explained to Spitznagle that the commissioners only appoint one or two members to the sewer board.
Prior to that, Clevenger informed the commissioners that he had spoken to Ken Jones and council for Barnes and Thornburg and there is some progress being made toward initiating the process.
“And then I also got a call from a landowner out at Lake Latonka wanting to know how we were doing because he’s interested in trying to promote the Lake Latonka area to be a high priority in getting some sewer services that way,” said Clevenger.