Meeting planned to discuss sewage problem in Monroe Township
ANDERSON — Madison County Councilwoman Bethany Keller is conducting a town hall meeting to discuss the sewage problem in Monroe Township.
The county council last week tabled a request by county engineer Jessica Bastin to approve a letter of support to create a regional utility district.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the office of the Monroe Township Trustee, 204 E. Berry St., Alexandria.
Keller said Monday that trustee George McFerran would attend. She said other council members, including Jodi Norrick, Scott Green and Kristi Grabowski, were planning to attend, along with county surveyor Ken Kocinski.
In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 after raw sewage was discovered flowing into Pipe Creek.
The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition.
The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a broken concrete storm sewer pipe.
'The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,' an inspection report reads. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.'
Bastin said that the project has been in the planning stages for three years.
She said the council had previously approved American Rescue Plan funds for master planning of infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the county.
Bastin said the study identified where there are sewage problems in the county.
She said an IDEM survey found raw sewage from the Scott's Addition was flowing into groundwater.
Bastin said IDEM wants the county to correct the problem.
She said it was the recommendation of the state agency and consultants to form a regional utility district, which would allow access to state grant funds.
Keller raised concerns about the process, including if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line, and the makeup of the proposed board.
The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the Madison County Health Department and Monroe Township trustee each making an appointment.
'We're appointing people that aren't elected,' Keller said. 'We need to protect property rights.'
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