TCRSD Board trustee Joe Todd leaves his position after serving on the board for nearly 30 years. Todd joined the board in 1987, noting his time would be up when the sewer system wrapped entirely around the lake.

CROMWELL — Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District trustees met for a brief regular monthly meeting Monday evening, Oct. 17. The board heard updates on the sewer project wrapping around the Wawasee area from engineer Brian Houghton, who provided info about each of the complete or nearly complete contracted areas.

On Monday afternoon, the district was able to get about five pumps up and running and ready for connection. The wastewater treatment plant will be complete after a change order that is in the works and a few minor punch list items for the contractors. Houghton also noted a scum arm on the final clarifier tank needs to be re-designed for the district, but felt confident the contractors and manufacturing company would take care of the issue without hesitation.

Dick Green, attorney for the district, was away but partner Andrew Grossnickle was present for the meeting. Grossnickle updated the board on a couple issues; Green is currently in negotiations on obtaining an easement for a signal tower for the pump at Vawter Park. The signal tower is anticipated to be about 80 feet in height and will allow the data communications system to more effectively transmit data and pump information. Grossnickle also noted Green has been in contact with Jon Julian, Umbaugh and Associates, in regards to a rate study on the district’s billed flow to Syracuse town.

Board member Robert Dumford noted the project has been in the works for more than 10 months and still Julian hasn’t returned results. “Someone needs to put some pressure on Jon Julian,” added Dumford. The concern stems from the quickly increasing bills coming from Syracuse. In a comparison, district superintendent Timothy Woodward noted flow has gone down from last year, yet the bill has increased by nearly 40 percent.

Woodward addressed the board also, bringing to the table a couple updates on the pump communication system, Skidata. Woodward added several additional repeaters to pair with the existing radios to help with signal strength and work parallel with the existing technology to serve as a backup. Woodward and Dumford met with the company recently and agreed the customer service is exceptionally lacking. Woodward hopes the new system will eventually be a replacement for Skidata, allowing the district to be free from the less than helpful company and the unreliable service.

On a more relaxed note, the board said goodbye to longtime trustee Joe Todd. Todd has served on the TCRSD board since 1987. Woodward presented Todd with a plaque thanking him for his years of dedication to the board and a cut glass letter opener from the district. Todd laughed as he reminded the board of his promise to leave the board when the sewer had wrapped around the entire lake. “I didn’t realize it would take this long,” he joked. Todd thanked the board for continuing to work without pay and was thankful to see the project nearly complete. “We have the best staff that we’ve ever had,” said Todd.

The board will meet again Monday, Nov. 21, at the Cromwell sewer office. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

District superintendent Timothy Woodward, left, presents Joe Todd with gifts from the district.