7 August 2025 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes

 7 August 2025 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes

Board- A quorum of 4 is present.

Steve Renihan President County Commissioners 12-31-2027

Doug Baer Treasurer  County Board of Health 12-31-2027 

Brett Fehrman VP & Secretary City of Aurora 12-31-2025 

Russell Beiersdorder Board County Commissioners 12-31-2025

ABSENT:

Jeff Bittner Board  County Council 12-31-2026 

Steward Cline Board  County Commissioners 12-31-2025 

Jeff Stenger Board  County Council 12-31-2028

Board Attorney - Frank Kramer

Also present: Christy and Mike Hrezo of Hrezo Engineering, Commissioner Jim Thatcher, Tamara Taylor, The Beacon.

Renihan read the Public Access Statement as legally required.

Minutes: July 17th Minutes with Ordinance and Resolution attached- Approved

Treasurer’s Report: Approved (Thatcher asked for the simple version- It’s +$26,000 net.)

Public Comment: Steve Haake- 9156 Mt Tabor now and looking to build another house on Mt Tabor Rd. Plan Commission  approved the project if DCRSD can give him a capacity letter so he will have sewer there. Shumacher Homes is building the home. Board will discuss that letter later in the meeting. 

Project Updates: Christy from Hrezo Engineering.

Guilford- Lines are in for Guilford- Tanks delivered to the site.No major issues with the project at this time. 30% is paid from the order, then 55% due now. Pictures of the tanks etc were submitted to the board. Delivery is not actually at the contract site and not asking for any rentals. Other items are stored in secure storage at Chaffee’s. Hrezo recommends paying that next installment tonight. Check is prepared and signed. Board approved the payment.  

High Ridge WWTP -Doug and she talked about cleaning up some things. Doug Baer reminded Christy that they have tp send something up to IDEM abut capacity and extend a main to Mr. Haake. (not just a lateral) $7,500 to tap in as capacity charge. Haake agrees to pay. And he also has to pay for the cost of extending the main line. Plus the grinder pump, electrical etc. Renihan said they have capacity for about 18 homes now- though they have commitments for more than 18 and will need to expand eventually. They are going to apply for grants at some time for that. They need to get an asset management plan set up so they can apply for these funds. They have one from 2023 per Christy. Fehrman asked about another 1500 gal concrete tank to add to High Ridge to help with increased capacity. Hrezo agreed it’s doable. Rehihan says they have over half million in the bank. Want’s to use it with grant match. 

Hrezo had a PER (Preliminary Engineering Report) that Steward Cline asked them to do. Necessary for IDEM along with an asset management plan. Passed it out for board to review. Trying to get a lot of I and I out of there, though they will never totally remove that. Need to talk to Doug at plant regarding the disinfection. He thinks IDEM will look favorably on this. Christy will email info to board so they can apply for grants. Also have to have Brock or accountant to participate in that. Mike Hrezo noted that competition for grants will be heavy - especially with the new administration cutting back on funding. He thinks they could get some basic info for next meeting for a NTE of $2500. Board Approved Hrezo for NTE $2500 for preliminary look at High Ridge Expansion. 

Board approved a capacity letter for Mr Haake’s project for Planning and Zoning Office. 

Dillsboro- Put pipe together and have some in the ground last 2 days per Jeff Meinders, Contractor. 

Grant covered up to 100 ft on a lateral. In response to Fehrman’s questions: If others in future want to add on to this they will have to cover noise costs. They are looking at the rough estimate of these costs so they can tell people. Also looking to know the rates for 1000 gals at these plants to tell people- Use rate study for both plants to know this. Dillsboro gets paid by DCRSD at the negotiated rates. DCRSD has to get the payments from the customers. Kelly will be billing. Adjusting things to get the money owed got DCRSD from Crossroads. Renihan said- Moving forward we need to be doing the billing and not relying on others to do it for us. 

New Business: Doug Baer presented:  $400 adjustment for Bobby Higgins account as it shifts to proper payment section. Approved

$4.53 for Steve Ashcraft for certified letter not delivered in time. He already paid his bill though. Adjusted. Approved. 

Getting rate setup- Approved.

Office Update: none

Claims: $ 5,951.28 operating expenses. Approved.

$6665.00 for Hrezo on Lake Dildear project out of Lake Dildear account. Approved.

$646,074.50 for Guilford Project out of Guilford account. Approved.

Discretion of the Board: Renihan- thanked everyone for the time they spend. Guilford will be a great asset for the county. 

Adjourn: 6PM 

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township