E. Coli Found In Leesburg Storm Sewer
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LEESBURG - A contaminated storm sewer system may force the Leesburg Town Council's hand on the wastewater treatment project.
Town council president Bob Cleveland received a warning from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in late December. The letter said water samples taken from Kohler Ditch in April showed unacceptable levels of E. coli. IDEM will be keeping an eye on how Leesburg addresses the situation.
In a newsletter sent to town residents, Cleveland said the town has two options: Put in a wastewater treatment system or do a dye test at each residence to see where the leak is coming from.
The contamination is forcing the town to look at the issue with a new urgency. "We must make a decision in 18 months to two years or the state will make it for us," Cleveland said at Monday's council meeting.
The council traveled to Indianapolis last month to discuss the noncompliance with IDEM. Councilmen also met with representatives of the state revolving fund and the Department of Commerce to discuss financing for a wastewater treatment project.
Leesburg has received $200,000 from the Build Indiana Fund, and they will know within 60 days whether they qualify for additional funding.
Council conducted a public hearing on the treatment system plan in February 1997 after several months of research and discussion. It was agreed cost per user was much too high and the project was put on hold until the town could gain grants or other outside funding.
The project would require residents to pay a $2,000 connection fee and also pay for the cost to hook on to the sewer, about another $2,000.
After residents pay these costs, they would have to pay a monthly user fee of $66.
Cleveland said that if the town receives $1 million from the state revolving fund the monthly rate would be $41. If an additional $500,000 was acquired from the Department of Commerce, the fee would be reduced to $34.
Councilman Steve Rodgers has said that anything less than $30 a month is unacceptable.
Cleveland said that he believes the town's chances for additional funding are good because of the $1.2 billion surplus carried by the state.
The council is considering another way to reduce costs to homeowners. Bruce Bodner of Advanced Utilities Unlimited has presented a proposal of a treatment system by private contractors. He said the town would be able to operate the system at less than $29 a month.
Bodner said Advanced Utilities Unlimited would pay all costs associated with installing the sewer system, then lease the system back to the town.
In addition to leaving the town in control, Bodner believes there is another advantage. "We would put in the entire system before the town pays us 5 cents," he said "Your dollars don't start flowing until the system is inspected."
Council has no doubts that the private system would be a good one. "No matter how cheap they put it in, they still have to meet state requirements," Cleveland said.
Bodner will prepare specific cost figures for his company's proposal and get back to the council in a couple weeks.
The decision may hinge upon conditions attached to state funding. "If we can get the grants, and if we can use them for private, I don't see how we can't be competitive," Cleveland said.
The DOC will require the town to do an income survey to qualify for financial assistance. Cleveland said the last figures they have are from the 1990 census, but the council believes the income the census shows is too high. "I believe with the number of retired folks we have it's just not accurate," Cleveland said.
The town will hire a group from Ball State University to do the survey, which should be conducted soon. He said people should be honest about their income, and assures that the survey is "extremely confidential."
Residents are encouraged to contact Cleveland, Rodgers or Rick Stookey with their concerns. [[In-content Ad]]
LEESBURG - A contaminated storm sewer system may force the Leesburg Town Council's hand on the wastewater treatment project.
Town council president Bob Cleveland received a warning from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in late December. The letter said water samples taken from Kohler Ditch in April showed unacceptable levels of E. coli. IDEM will be keeping an eye on how Leesburg addresses the situation.
In a newsletter sent to town residents, Cleveland said the town has two options: Put in a wastewater treatment system or do a dye test at each residence to see where the leak is coming from.
The contamination is forcing the town to look at the issue with a new urgency. "We must make a decision in 18 months to two years or the state will make it for us," Cleveland said at Monday's council meeting.
The council traveled to Indianapolis last month to discuss the noncompliance with IDEM. Councilmen also met with representatives of the state revolving fund and the Department of Commerce to discuss financing for a wastewater treatment project.
Leesburg has received $200,000 from the Build Indiana Fund, and they will know within 60 days whether they qualify for additional funding.
Council conducted a public hearing on the treatment system plan in February 1997 after several months of research and discussion. It was agreed cost per user was much too high and the project was put on hold until the town could gain grants or other outside funding.
The project would require residents to pay a $2,000 connection fee and also pay for the cost to hook on to the sewer, about another $2,000.
After residents pay these costs, they would have to pay a monthly user fee of $66.
Cleveland said that if the town receives $1 million from the state revolving fund the monthly rate would be $41. If an additional $500,000 was acquired from the Department of Commerce, the fee would be reduced to $34.
Councilman Steve Rodgers has said that anything less than $30 a month is unacceptable.
Cleveland said that he believes the town's chances for additional funding are good because of the $1.2 billion surplus carried by the state.
The council is considering another way to reduce costs to homeowners. Bruce Bodner of Advanced Utilities Unlimited has presented a proposal of a treatment system by private contractors. He said the town would be able to operate the system at less than $29 a month.
Bodner said Advanced Utilities Unlimited would pay all costs associated with installing the sewer system, then lease the system back to the town.
In addition to leaving the town in control, Bodner believes there is another advantage. "We would put in the entire system before the town pays us 5 cents," he said "Your dollars don't start flowing until the system is inspected."
Council has no doubts that the private system would be a good one. "No matter how cheap they put it in, they still have to meet state requirements," Cleveland said.
Bodner will prepare specific cost figures for his company's proposal and get back to the council in a couple weeks.
The decision may hinge upon conditions attached to state funding. "If we can get the grants, and if we can use them for private, I don't see how we can't be competitive," Cleveland said.
The DOC will require the town to do an income survey to qualify for financial assistance. Cleveland said the last figures they have are from the 1990 census, but the council believes the income the census shows is too high. "I believe with the number of retired folks we have it's just not accurate," Cleveland said.
The town will hire a group from Ball State University to do the survey, which should be conducted soon. He said people should be honest about their income, and assures that the survey is "extremely confidential."
Residents are encouraged to contact Cleveland, Rodgers or Rick Stookey with their concerns. [[In-content Ad]]