WARSAW — A request by the Friends of Tippy to have the Kosciusko County Commissioners conduct a feasibility study for sewers around Tippecanoe lakes was changed this morning Tuesday, Dec 19, at the commissioners meeting. Now the request is for the possibility of Lakeland Regional Sewer District to expand to include the Tippecanoe lakes.

Based on that request change, Chad Miner, county attorney, suggested a formal petition be filed with the commissioners making such a request, along with written objections, by Jan. 2. The request and objections should be delivered, in person or by mail, to Marsha McSherry, county administrator. The matter will then be reviewed at the Jan. 9 county commissioners meeting.

Scott Reust, attorney for Friends of Tippy, was present at the commissioners meeting and spoke before the board. Reust noted there have been a lot of conversations, including with other regional sewer districts. He indicated joining another regional sewer district such as the LRSD makes sense. “We’re having that request today, modifying our request from the last time to inquire the possibility of Lakeland Regional Sewer District expanding their district, if the study comes back that sewers are feasible and necessary.”

Sue Ann Mitchell, county councilwoman and a member of the LRSD board, was asked to present information from LRSD. She noted LRSD has “obviously been aware of what’s going on at Tippy,” and the board has spoke about considering including Tippy. “We would consider, at this point obviously we can’t make a commitment … ,” adding nothing could be considered until the study was done. She also noted discussion would have to be held at a public meeting, the next meeting being in January. “At this point we obviously can’t say we would do it or are not going to do it until we get the feasibility study.”

Reference was made to a letter LRSD President James R. Haney had sent to the county commissioners. That letter indicates the LRSD board would be willing to discuss expanding its territory, and if the county desired to proceed with these initial discussions, he suggested a representative of the county contact him and be placed on the agenda for discussion on the agenda of its Jan. 17 meeting.

“Since we have a group that’s requesting this, in the past if we did have a group interested, to come to the commissioners with a written petition and make a formal request. That is my recommendation.” He suggested the Jan. 2 deadline to give commissioners an opportunity to review what has been filed, and “make a decision whether to make the request to LRSD to expand or not … keep the ball rolling.”