CROMWELL — The board members of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District started the first meeting of the 2018 year Monday, Jan. 22, by tying up loose ends and planning ahead for the months to come. The board approved meeting minutes from December, approved claims and nominated board member Don DeWitt as the new secretary-treasurer for 2018.

DeWitt joined the meeting via Skype conference call and was able to weigh in throughout the meeting and provide instant feedback.

During the past few months, district superintendent Timothy Woodward worked closely with Dick Green and Andrew Grossnickle, attorneys for the district, after learning of additional measures needed to protect contamination of water. Woodward felt the possibility of ground chemicals reaching clean water would be an issue to address immediately, and the state is now requiring an official plan of action for each district to prevent these issues. The result of these months of work is the district’s cross-connection ordinance.

Grossnickle presented 2018-1 TCRSD Cross-Connections Ordinance for first reading and preliminary discussion during the meeting, noting he is hoping to have it passed officially during the February meeting. Woodward added there will be an inspection done at the district water plant Feb. 20, and he wants to have the ordinance ready.

Overall, Woodward felt the district has had a great set of winter months, noting there have been no issues stemming from the bitter cold and high winds, a fact he feels is testament to his staff and the district’s equipment. Woodward and his crew addressed one water leak at the water plant as well as a sewer leak on Sunrise Drive, both repaired.

Looking ahead, the project that will reverse sewage flow from Syracuse back to TCRSD is moving along. The board felt the town of Syracuse had misspoken in a recent public meeting, and the team addressed this by means of a rebuttal letter. Board president Rex Heil thanked the board members for what project engineer Brian Houghton felt was a “very well put-together” letter.

Houghton has been working closely with the board and members of the public to find the most cost-effective and smartest route for the new sewer system. He said approximately 197 letters are being sent out this month to homeowners in the areas of Eastshore and Northshore drive to determine interest. This interest and feedback will play a deciding factor in the location of sewer.

The February meeting will be held at the Cromwell district office at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19. Public members are always welcome to attend.

Additional notes:

• The town of Syracuse has provided information for the district to review in regards to increased billing for the flow processed for TCRSD. It is pending review from TCRSD representatives and engineers.

• TCRSD sent out pre-lien notices totaling approximately $28,000.