Winona lake -ÊSlightly disillusioned over negotiations with Warsaw over a sewer agreement, the town council is looking at the long-range possibility of working with other towns.

Warsaw treats Winona Lake's waste and the municipalities have been haggling for months over a renewal of the sewer agreement.

Meanwhile, clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks said, at least one consultant has advised that the town could operate its own sewer plant for as much as they expect to pay this year to Warsaw in sewer fees.

Winona Lake expects to pay about $250,000 in fees to Warsaw in 1998 - nearly $100,000 more than last year after a new meter was installed and indicated the town had been undercharged for past use.

Hicks was instructed Tuesday by council to contact other towns and possibly area lake communities and a consultant about working together in any way.

While the idea of regional cooperation is a long shot, officials want to at least explore the idea.

"If we could work with some of those other communities and have a region where we're all equal players and serve all our needs, I think that would be great," town council president Brent Wilcoxson said.

Councilman Randy Ruppel downplayed talk of a cooperative sewer project. "I don't object to it, (but) I don't think it's feasible," he said.

Councilman Dick Taylor said he wants to resolve negotiations with the city, but said looking at options is a good idea.

"We're all in this together," he said, referring to area communities that are hard-pressed for sewer needs.

Breaking away from Warsaw could be good for both municipalities, Wilcoxson said. Leaving the Warsaw system would free up much needed additional capacity for the city, he said.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said he's not surprised Winona Lake is looking at other options. Regional cooperation has been part of Warsaw's long-term plan of building a second treatment plant, he said.

In addition to being charged the same rate as industry, Wilcoxson criticized another aspect of the proposed agreement which has been tentatively approved by Warsaw.

Wilcoxson said he's not happy with a stipulation in which Warsaw requires the town to financially support future expansion of the plant.

Since the town is already being charged an industrial rate - higher than residential - Wilcoxson said they're already funding future capital expansion.

He questioned whether the city of Warsaw would solicit industry for financial support to construct a second sewer plant.

Such a scenario would be a case of "double dipping," he said.

"I don't want to operate on this basis any more," Wilcoxson said.

Wiggins points out that main points in the proposed agreement remain unchanged.

"I don't understand why it's such a problem. That rate has been in effect for years," Wiggins said.

"We're not out to gouge anyone as far as what we charge our residents or their residents, but we do have the total cost and overhead of the treatment facility," he said.

Another issue also seems to be complicating the debate over a working agreement and involves a request by Canaan Estates, which sought and failed last week in its request to hook onto the sewer.

Canaan Estates acted with the support of Winona Lake after two of the residences' septic systems failed. Warsaw denied the request last week in an effort to preserve future capacity for residents within Warsaw city limits.

Warsaw's reluctance to consider that request has some Winona Lake officials wondering about other neighborhoods.

But Wiggins said if the properties are within Winona Lake's town limits the city is obligated to treat the waste.

Regardless of future plans for a sewer, which would be years away, the city and town need to reach a new agreement or continue with the existing one. The new agreement would extend over 10 years.

"We've got a few things in the agreement that need to be ironed out," Ruppel said. [[In-content Ad]]