President Jim Boone, right, and vice president Bob Dumford listen to superintendent Tim Woodward give updates on the new well, rotors and other plant matters at the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District board meeting Monday, Oct. 21. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

CROMWELL — Turkey Creek Sewer District Superintendent Tim Woodward recommended delaying progress on a new well at the district’s Monday, Oct. 21 board meeting.

The district has been considering drilling a new well to replace an older one built in 1963. Ortland Drilling and Water Services completed a test drill and found the area didn’t have the right formation for a new well, proposing a bedrock well as an alternative.

Woodward recommended taking no action and saving their money, as the board has plans to reapply to the State Revolving Fund in April and could get grant funding for the new well.

Vice president Bob Dumford asked if the current well stayed at appropriate levels, especially with the dryness over the past several months.

“We stayed 35 feet above the screen,” Woodward said.

Woodward went on to say he would contact Ortland for maintenance on the well in the meantime, as it is still not in “the best of shape.”

Woodward also reported a concrete slab is being put in at the plant in preparation for new rotor installation and should be done within two weeks. A quote from Mason Engineering for the installation itself is expected within another two weeks, with the rotors expected to arrive in March. At last month’s meeting, Woodward stated new rotors would expand plant capacity by 62%.

In order to speed up the process, Woodward reported he has decided to drain one of the plant’s tanks and run one ditch instead of two for the winter. This way, he said, fewer steps will have to be taken to get the plant ready when the rotors arrive and installation will be faster.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t be ready to go on June 1, up 62% capacity and ready for some new customers,” said Woodward.

A notice came in from IDEM that PFAS sampling will be required by April 2027. Turkey Creek has already submitted a water sample for testing this year, and no PFAS were found.

Woodward predicted an increase in expenses due to this new mandate, but did not have an estimate for how much.

In an update on the sewer line that was damaged by a company installing fiber optic cable in 2022, Woodward said it had been fixed and was covered by insurance for $20,000. The $20,000 will be distributed among the five vendors who had a hand in fixing the damage.

Lastly, he announced a new generator plug will be installed at the Crowdale lift station this week. Since there are five other lift stations flowing into Crowdale, a generator is vital to keep it flowing properly.

Attorney Andy Boxberger gave a brief update on adding Southshore Golf Course to the district. He spoke with owner Nathan Scherer and learned the property has no sewage-producing structures within 300 feet of Turkey Creek sewers, so there’s no requirement for him to connect at this time. Scherer is interested in connecting eventually, but there is currently no time estimate, as connection is dependent upon getting water service from the town of Syracuse.

The next Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District board meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18.