21 March 2024- DCRSD Board Meeting Notes
Brett Fehrman - Vice President and Acting President, Russell Beiersdorfer, Bill Shelton, Doug Baer, Jeff Stenger, and Steward Cline
ABSENT: Steve Renihan and Bill Shelton and Board Attorney, Frank Kramer
Also present: Rick Probst and Jim Thatcher (Commissioners) and Tamara Taylor (Beacon)
The Public Access Statement as legally required by Brett Fehrman.
Minutes: March 7 Minutes approved
Treasurers Report: none
Public Comment:none
Steve Brock, Rate Study -$162,600 total spending $59,849 coming in from customers. Guilford will add 22-25 new customers. 80 new customers counting Lake Dilldeer
What kind of rate increase do you want? $56.73 at 3000 gal. $143 at 3000 gal is needed. $85 is the reasonable affordable fee in INDIANA.
With 80 new customers you would be at $69.00 Forcing customers would get you to the 80 new ones faster.
There are grant and low interest loans for sewer districts. For getting those it is $85 at 4000 gallons. 4000 gal is the typical usage of a household. People in wealthier areas go higher as they don’t worry much about what it costs. If you get down to $53,800 household incomes it opens up loans with extra money. Electricity and chemical costs need to be looked at.
Cline said we have an operator and some staff to help with paper work and billing. We do not have a utility superintendent. Also need to see what operation and maintenance might increase by with additional consumers. Brock said he could add those numbers into the plan.
Those numbers will be higher for additional customers. Every 3-5 years need to look at your spending plans. 40% increase in construction costs over previous year.
If they got the $60,000 back it would be better. Discussion about how the numbers of customers did not include new High Ridge ones- so they are closer to having 20 already. Construction has to be done by 2025 per Christy from Hrezo. State revolving loan fund process requires an asset management plan to be done and several other items. List all assets and replacement value etc. Only 2 years left in Biden money coming in.Cline- There is a finite are we serve out of the district. Because it is government money they are all required to hook up. Brock- State law does not fund for speculative development. Unsewered areas gets a high score to get a grant or sase revolving loan fund, etc. There are other areas that need help. You only have to survey 80% of your customer base for this income survey. Per Brock. SRF- state revolving fund.
Rural development- he can run numbers for that. They are out of money for that now. Do PER as if a rural development USDA guidelines as SRF will accept those- but the reverse is not true.
Board asked him to get numbers adjusted for current customer base and also add in a part time superintendent cost. Engineers have to calculate maintenance costs for new customers. Board thought this was good stuff to work with now. Get Brock back after April 1st with adjustments asked for.
Investor run utility- has shareholders and stockholders. At least 4 in Indiana now. IURC allows these companies to recover the purchase price from the customers - called an acquisition adjustment. Public owned utilities are expensive- but investor owned ones are even more expensive for tiger customers. Just wanted to give you both sides of the argument.
He said he knew the investor owned groups will not tell you how they will recoup their cost of acquisition because they don’t want you to think about this while deciding to sell to them.
Brock departed at 5:45 PM
Project Updates:
Guilford- Bob Hrezo- IDEM is officially starting to review the treatment Monday this week. Crystal at IDEM was her name. She said it looks straight forward.
Christy- Might be able to install while SR 1 is closed. She plans to get the set that is going to IDEM to INDOT got coordinate this in some way. If not before she leaves- she will have it done before she gets back.
High Ridge WWTP
High Ridge west Expansion - Texas Gas Rd
Wilson Creek Project
Huesman Rd and Cole Lane
Harrison TIF/Stone Project- Baer said request for service out there, wanting a zone change out there Ag to B-2. Just need a letter to state the potential for service. This will be under the current business agreement with West Harrison. Board - Will send service letter to them for that. Christy writes it for Renihan’s signature.
Scenic Ridge/148 Sewers /Outer Drive
Stateline Rd
Serenity Ridge Tranquility Court- not connected the house there yet.
Moores Hill
Dillsboro- Lake Dildear-meeting on Tuesday. Also a Monday meeting with Cline, Derek Walker (Dillsboro Town MGR), Hrezo or Christy, and Brett.
New Business: Fehrman asked about pump and haul.
Baer said the regional sewer district rules cannot be superseded by the pump and haul rules. It’s there for things like small amounts of usage for a business. Not like a single bathroom out of a pole barn business. It’s too expensive to do this long term. Private utilities do not have the ability to force connections. 300 ft to residence is under review at state level. If cost to hook to sewer is 1 and 1/2 times the septic- they would be required to hook onto sewer. He thinks distance is going away and basing more on costs. This is what he learned at the state meeting and missed last sewer meeting.
Office Update: none
Claims: approved to pay claims
Comments:Fehrman had cme conference and said found out we are the only county of those at meeting who have a Regional sewer district. This gives people a way to have a possible solution.
Beiersdorfer asked about bidding on Guilford- Christy thinks about 60 days to bidding for both plant and lines. One construction job.
Adjourned: 6:13 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
