Chapman Lake Residents Express Opposition To Sewer Plan
Chapman Lake Residents Express Opposition To Sewer Plan
Posted
Mark Howe-mhowe@timesuniononline.com
Chapman Lake Residents Express Opposition To Sewer PlanThree Chapman Lake-area residents told Kosciusko County commissioners there is greater opposition to the proposed Tippecanoe Lake/Chapman Lake Regional Sewer District than most people know. The trio spoke at the commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.
Rick Couse opened the comments by saying he’d been a resident of Chapman Lake for 46 years. “We have a petition of over 200 family members at Chapman Lake who do not want the sewage system. We want it noted that there is opposition to this,” he said. Couse estimated up to 70 percent of Chapman Lake residents oppose the sewer line, and many aren’t even aware of the proposal.
Vincente Garza was not convinced the Indiana Department of Environmental Management wouldn’t force residents within 300 feet of a sewer line to hook up in spite of what’s being said locally.
On several occasions it’s been on the record that residents would not be required to hook up to a new sewer line as long as septic tanks are in good repair. Most septic systems have a life expectancy of around 20 years, others much longer. If a residence has sufficient acreage to install a second septic after the first has exceeded its life expectancy, the health department would likely permit it.
Garza said IDEM, as a state agency, can supercede the county’s wishes by requiring hook ups. “The pipeline could potentially come up on CR 450N. If that happens, if I’m not mistaken, both Hawthorne and The Pines neighborhoods are within 300 feet of that pipeline. So the state is going to take over regardless of what we’re being told and include Hawthorne after they’ve been exempt from the project,” he said.
Ken Jones, of engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinski, told Garza he wasn’t aware of any instances where IDEM exercised that right. Garza left the lectern unconvinced.
Elaine Kokenge expressed she feels it;s un-American to force people to hook into the sewer line.
Commissioners president Bob Conley suggested each bring their concerns, and any petitions, to the September meeting.
In his remarks, county attorney Chad Miner said a community meeting, where everyone can have a say, will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 29 in the gym of the North Webster Community Center.
Before the opposing remarks, Jones said the process for starting the sewer district was going very well. He did tell the commissioners that it would be wise to notify more people, rather than fewer, of the September meeting in North Webster.
County Clerk Ann Torpy asked commissioners permission to redraw voting precinct lines. She said with the City of Warsaw annexing some areas and lines have been redrawn for representation on the city council. Torpy wants to redraw the lines so that there is only one city council race in any precinct. Her request was granted.
In other business the council:
• Granted power of attorney to KABS?Transportation General Manager Amanda Landis for the sole purpose of registering the new vehicles recently purchased by the agency.
• Approved a request from The Indiana University Foundation rezone a 5.5-acre property on the north end of Second Street, north of Armstrong Road in Oswego, from agricultural to residential. The foundation will divide the property into four plots for homes. The property is bordered by Oswego Lake on the north, the Tippecanoe River on the west, private property on the south and a cemetery on the east.
• Approved a road vacation for a section of EMS?T3 Lane. It will be split between two property owners, who have reached an agreement on where the line will be drawn.
• Approved a zoning change from Agricultural to residential for Rose Cotten. She wants to subdivide a part of her property to her daughter for the purpose of building a home.
• Approved a petition request from Orange Cat LLC to rezone 11.64 acres of property from public use to residential along Eastshore Drive across from Maxwelton Golf Club in Syracuse was heard. The site is a portion of the former Smith Walbridge Camp.
• Approved Kurt Carlson request to rezone property he owns on CR 550S, just east of Ind. 15, from public use to agricultural. The property has a building that used to be a church, and Carlson said the only potential buyers he’s had are interested in converting the structure into a residence.
• Approved Jeff Stromback’s request to rezone 17.5 acres of a property from agricultural to commercial on the north side of East CR 500N at the intersection of Ind. 13.
The next Kosciusko County Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 4
