Tuesday, the Kosciusko County commissioners are scheduled to make a decision on whether or not to carry a petition from some lake area residents seeking to join the Lakeland Regional Sewer District.
The commissioners tabled the decision Sept. 30 in order to seek more public input.
The LRSD was formed to establish a sewer system around the Barbee Lakes chain. Dan Lee, representing property owners calling themselves the Chapman Lakes Environmental Watch, and David Tyler, representing a group called the Lakeland Environmental Task Force, presented petitions requesting the annexation of the two areas at the commissioners' Sept. 30 meeting.Because neither group is a political entity, as required by Indiana law, they asked the commissioners to present the petitions to the LRSD board.
Heavy development on small-sized lake area lots and poor soil types are two of the main factors Lee and Tyler identify as showing the need in their areas to join the sewer district. Both groups independently hired Bonar Group, an engineering firm based in Fort Wayne, to study their areas, map soil types and identify possible boundaries for inclusion in the LRSD.
All three commissioners said they've received input from the public on both sides of the annexation issue. Commissioners Brad Jackson and Bob Conley said they've had more input in favor of joining the LRSD than against. Commissioner Ron Truex said he's heard some strong opinions.
"This is very emotional both ways," Truex said. "This is probably more controversial than the Eli Lilly road project."
All three commissioners said they'll be looking for clear facts when making their decision Tuesday.
"I want to hear more than just a head count," Jackson said. "I want to hear good reasons why we do or do not need the sewer."
Conley said he wants to hear some answers to the questions he's gotten from the public in the past month.
"They want to know about the cost," he said. "They want some accurate assessments of what the cost will be."
At the Oct. 14 commissioners meeting, Tyler said state statute only requires petitioners to show need for the establishment of a sewer system. He said, through independent studies by engineering firm, Bonar Group, his and Lee's groups have demonstrated the need.
"We did not attempt to market or sell the idea to the community," Tyler said. "We did the study and determined the need."
Tuesday's meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Old Courtroom in the Kosciusko County Courthouse, Warsaw.
