Two competing interests in the Tippecanoe Lake sewer debate faced off Tuesday and the Kosciusko County Commissioners found themselves caught in between.

The commissioners have been cooperating in recent weeks with Friends of Tippy, a group opposed to establishing a conservancy district for the sake of constructing a sewer district around Tippecanoe Lake.

Friends of Tippy want to see a study conducted to determine the need for and feasibility of a sewer district and have expressed support for an alternative regional sewer district plan instead of a conservancy district.

A regional sewer district does not have authority to establish a tax.

On Tuesday, the commissioners approved a resolution sought by Friends of Tippy to create a committee that would study the issue. The commissioners are hoping to cover expenses with the use of grant money.



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The resolution also includes names of the committee members. Those include Robert Weaver, from the county health department; Sue Ann Mitchell, who sits on county council; Mike Kissinger, county surveyor; as well as Mark Bishop, Robert Paton, Dennis Sokol, Tom Van Meter and John Warren.

Moments later, representatives of the conservancy district approached the commissioners and pointed out that they’ve done much of the same research on their own and said the proposed new work would be a duplication of services.

An engineering study was done in 2009 and updated over the course of the past two years.

Steve Snyder, an attorney representing the conservacy district, estimated they are three years into the project and could be just three years away from construction.

“We’re ready to move forward,” Snyder said. “This process is in process.”

Representatives of the conservancy district say they’ve collected enough signatures and will submit when they file initial plans with the Kosciusko Circuit Court.

According to a report prepared by Jones Petrie Rafinski for the conservancy district group, they’ve outlined a district including nearly 1,500 customers, including 400 mobile homes, some seasonal cottages, 16 businesses, Camp Crosley and the Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.

Estimated cost of the project would be $34 million and the group has identified three potential financing sources.

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel here,” said Jon Tyler, one of the organizers with the conservancy group. “We’ve already got a plan in place.”

As for researching the need for a sewer system, Snyder, saying “I think we’re beyond that stage.”

Snyder and others say dense development along the lake warrants the need for a sewer service.

Tyler compared the current circumstances to how the Lakeland Regional Sewer District was established to serve the Barbee Lakes chain.

Years ago, Barbee Lakes established a conservancy district, but the plan ran into opposition and eventually disbanded and everything was turned over to a new regional sewer district, which became operational in 2017.

Tyler said he doesn’t envision a repeat.

“That’s not the plan here because we believe we have a better plan for conservancy than regional,” said Tyler.

Tyler said they are open to working with Lakeland Regional Sewer District or even the city of Warsaw, which is in the midst of expanding its own treatment plant. If a plan came together in which Warsaw treated Tippecanoe sewer, the conservancy district would consider including Chapman Lake as well.

“We’re trying to establish which is the most feasible for our potential customers,” Tyler said.

Tyler said with the use of a tax rate, a lot of customers would be paying less than what would be offered through an RSD payment plan.

Tyler invited RSD organizers “to step on board with our vehicle.”

“We’re already going down the road toward the goal,” he said.

Seeing a standoff start to emerge between two plans, County Commissioner Brad Jackson called for some kind of compromise and his two other colleagues joined in.

Jackson, who has voiced a dislike for establishing a tax, encouraged the two groups to work together, but added that he thinks the conservancy district is not the best path.

The use of the tax is unfair, Jackson said, comparing it to “almost like a welfare situation.” He said the two groups should meet and come to some common ground.

Attorney Scott Reust, representing Friends of Tippy, said that they’d like to see the newly formed committee look at alternative solutions.

“We’re not saying we agree sewers are necessary or that we want sewers,” Reust said. “We think it’s become the time to do a modern study to determine that.”“That’s not the plan here because we believe we have a better plan for conservancy than regional,” said Tyler.

Tyler said they are open to working with Lakeland Regional Sewer District or even the city of Warsaw, which is in the midst of expanding its own treatment plant. If a plan came together in which Warsaw treated Tippecanoe sewer, the conservancy district would consider including Chapman Lake as well.

“We’re trying to establish which is the most feasible for our potential customers,” Tyler said.

Tyler said with the use of a tax rate, a lot of customers would be paying less than what would be offered through an RSD payment plan.

Tyler invited RSD organizers “to step on board with our vehicle.”

“We’re already going down the road toward the goal,” he said.

Seeing a standoff start to emerge between two plans, County Commissioner Brad Jackson called for some kind of compromise and his two other colleagues joined in.

Jackson, who has voiced a dislike for establishing a tax, encouraged the two groups to work together, but added that he thinks the conservancy district is not the best path.

The use of the tax is unfair, Jackson said, comparing it to “almost like a welfare situation.” He said the two groups should meet and come to some common ground.

Attorney Scott Reust, representing Friends of Tippy, said that they’d like to see the newly formed committee look at alternative solutions.

“We’re not saying we agree sewers are necessary or that we want sewers,” Reust said. “We think it’s become the time to do a modern study to determine that.”