Sewer district takes second step to raise rates
By Debbie Lowe

It is said the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. If this is true, the future looks to be expensive for Carroll County sewer district customers.

Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District board members continued to pursue rate increases for Phase I and II, Idaville, Snow Ditch and Big Monon Bay in White County, and to establish the rate for Carroll County customers at their Thursday night meeting. The rate ordinance was given the first reading and accepted without comment by all board members, including Carroll County's representative Wayne Garrison.

Liens are used by the sewer district to encourage customers to avoid being delinquent with fees. Sewer district superintendent Mike Darter explained to the audience the policy of the sewer district is to file a lien on a property if there has been no fee payment for 90 days. And those fees don't just apply to property owners who are able to use the system when they become obligated to begin making monthly payments.

A Golden Beach resident in White County reported he has been paying $50.50 a month since the first of the year. He is not yet connected to the sewer, he has a new home he is unable to move into because he has not been connected, and the sewer rate for his property is being raised.

Board president Jim Smith explained that the first project went online nearly seven years ago, and this is the first rate increase for them or anyone.

When audience members tried to ask questions about sewer district inconsistencies with the use of liens and the limit of the sewer board to increase rates, Smith said "This is totally off the wall."

One audience member asked what the status of Phase III is in Jefferson Township.

"It's on hold," Smith replied.

However district board treasurer Art Anderson publicly disagreed.

"I don't know why he said that," he said to the audience.

When Anderson presented the claims to be approved for payment, one from the engineering firm responsible for Phase III design, GRW of Indianapolis for $2,945, was approved.

Smith reported a public hearing for the rate ordinance will be Sept. 28 at the regularly scheduled sewer district board meeting. The next sewer district board

meeting will be Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the White County Government Building on the site of the former White County Courthouse.