Hylton supports action against sewer district
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Hylton

Carroll County Commissioners held a special session Tuesday at noon to decide what dollar figure to request from the county council for a potential lawsuit against the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District. In a split vote of two to one July 3, the county leaders decided to pursue formal exclusion from the district on behalf of residents in Phase IIIB in Jefferson Township. Commissioners' president Loren Hylton voted against the measure at that time.

In honor of the anniversary of the largest terrorist attack against the United States in history, September 11, the commissioners led the audience in the pledge of allegiance prior to the start of the meeting. With the words, "with liberty and justice for all" still hanging in the air, they listened to a very few residents, including county-appointed representative to the sewer district board Wayne Garrison, express opinions and give suggestions about the amount of money needed as an additional from the county council.

"I believe each one of you knows how serious this situation is," said sewer district opponent Pat Robertson.

She reported most of the sewer district opponents were not aware of the special meeting. However, Robertson said she had citizen pledges for more than $19,000 to fight the sewer district.

County council member and Adams Township resident Ron Slavens recommended requesting an additional of $20,000 from the council. He explained the cost of connection to the sewer district line, plus the cost of disabling a working septic system, paying to run a line from the house to the sewer pipe while paying the monthly bill of $65, could cost a property owner approximately $19,000 in ten years. He said he thought the county should match what opponents raised to fight inclusion in the district.

"It's going to get worse in the future if we don't take care of it now," resident Terry Dill said.

Garrison reported the sewer district was beginning Phase III construction in White County before beginning similar work in Carroll County, although Jefferson Township residents have received a first month's bill and are expected to pay prior to actual construction in their area.

Commissioner Bill Brown emphasized that all county residents paid for work on bridges, such as the Xenia Bridge, throughout the county. He said it was reasonable to expect all county residents to help fund the exclusion decision.

Brown moved to request up to a $50,000 additional appropriation to match residents' donations from the Riverboat Gambling Fund. Mears provided the second and in a surprising move, Hylton voted in favor of the action as well.

The matter will be on the Sept. 26 council meeting agenda.