Sewer plant

to the communities to be $2.5 million each in principal, plus about $6 million in interest for a 30-year loan, according to a presentation given to the county commissioners.

Last week Young and Commissioner Shannon Jones questioned the proposal during the initial presentation by county staff. It would leave the county with liability for the loan if any of the other governments ran into trouble paying off their shares, according to Bruce McGary, the assistant county prosecutor advising the commissioners.

“It’s a pretty big investment we’re making, then assuming the liability,” Jones said.

Instead Young suggested some or all of the three governments issue tax-free bonds raising cash to cover their shares and reducing the county liability.

“They can go issue a bond, then they can write a check,” Young said. “It’s just a thought.”

Staff questioned whether the communities would want to issue bonds and whether the arrangement was legal.

The regional plant is over- seen by a board made up of members from the com- munities and is operated by Veolia North America, a private corporation. Warren County and the three com- munities each own 25 percent of the plant.

Sanitation Engineer Chris Brausch said the private, nonprofit plant is unique. Brausch said this created problems obtaining conventional financing.

Brausch said improvements are overdue at the plant, which dates to the 1960’s. He said the regional board is hoping to begin con- struction in January on the first of two phases of the proj- ect, designed to improve flow in and out of the plant.

“We’ll certainly get you answers,” he told the com- missioners.

After the meeting, Dep- uty County Administrator Martin Russell said staff was researching the questions raised by the commission- ers and planned to bring it back to them Tuesday for a decision.

Franklin officials could not be reached.

Carlisle Mayor Randy Winkler said he had not been briefed on the questions, and said he does not know if the village is in a financial position to issue the bonds.

“I’m not so sure we could,” Winkler said.