Engineer Jeff Hersha, left, and Turkey Creek Sewer District Superintendent Tim Woodward gave and received updates on the district’s plans to seek funding from the State Revolving Fund for its upcoming improvement projects. A public hearing for customers about these projects will be held 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 15. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFree News

CROMWELL — The Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District board was updated on the progress of submitting planned improvement projects to the State Revolving Fund at its Monday, March 18, meeting.

A completed Preliminary Engineering Report and application from Jones & Henry Engineers is due to be submitted to the SRF for funding by April 1.

Board attorney Andy Boxberger reported that an income study of the district’s customers will need to be done.

“We’re hopeful that the income study will result in a lot of grant funding, especially for the water projects, from the SRF,” he said. Based on the most recent study from 2014, an estimated 70% of Turkey Creek customers are in the low-income category.

SRF scoring results are usually released in July or August. Funding is in three categories: grants, which do not have to be paid off; loans, which usually have a very low interest rate, sometimes 0%; and pool funding, loans with interest closer to market rate, often around 4%.

When the district knows what categories each project has scored in and how much funding they will get from the SRF, a change in water rates may be in order.

“Baker-Tilly will do a rate study based on our estimates, then once we actually know what the funding is, they’ll circle back around and tell you exactly what the impact on rates will be based on what we’ve been awarded,” Boxberger explained.

There will be a public hearing 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, at Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District, 4852 N. 1200W, Cromwell. Customers will be able to ask questions about the upcoming improvement projects.

Boxberger also noted that communication about check valve installation is planned to be sent out to affected customers June 1.

In the engineers’ report, John Magsam and Jeff Hersha of Jones & Henry informed the board that 18 people need to be notified that they must get connected to the district’s utilities. Communication should be going out in the next week.

The district is looking to determine what easement rights they might have on a stretch of Eli Lilly Road. According to Boxberger, a title search for six nearby properties has been ordered, but no report has come back yet. Magsam stated the preliminary cost of relocation on that road is about $300,000.

A property owner at Treasure Island Marina has until March 25 to remove a gas line he installed over one of Turkey Creek’s easement. The board is waiting until that date to see if it has been removed willingly or if a court order is necessary.

Superintendent Tim Woodward informed the board that the district will be flushing its systems four times this year. The flushing process clears iron out of the water. Customers have already been notified of this year’s flushing schedule.

Mason Engineering’s replacement of old rotors and installation of additional rotors, one part of the planned improvements, is currently underway at the plant.

Meanwhile, Woodward said, a bearing went out in clarifier tank 4, which has only been in use since 2018. Two sets of bearing were replaced in that tank, as well as another tank that has been in use since 2016. Chicago’s Lakeside Equipment, which provided the tanks, has also offered to replace a center drive shaft. This process will happen at the end of April once the rotor project is complete. About half of the plant is currently shut down while projects are underway.

The council also approved:

• An update to the boil water procedure from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

• Payment of the accounts payable voucher for $393,582.56.