HISTORY OF THE TWIN LAKES REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT
On May 29, 1973, the Stream Pollution Control Board of the State of Indiana accepted the Petition of the Board of Commissioners of White County, Indiana and resolved that the Final Order be issued. This action authorized the formation of the Twin Lakes Regional Waste District later changed to the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District.
Over the years District Trustees were appointed, engineering studies were done and various plans were considered to improve the water quality in and around the lakes. Not withstanding the findings and recommendations in the various studies, little was done and from 1979 to 1994, the sewer district was inactive.
Things began to change in the early nineties (90's). Residential complaints to the Health Department and to County Government were on the rise. Poor water quality, failing septic systems, poor soil conditions and other septic system problems left home owners in many cases struggling to find a solution. In some cases, people were told that their was little that could be done. In other cases people found that they could not build or rebuild on their property.
To combat these growing problems, the White County Board of Commissioners commissioned a Wastewater Collection and Treatment Feasibility Study for the Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman areas. An Advisory ten (10) member task force was appointed to complete specific activities and make recommendations to the Commissioners and the White County Council on proceeding with project implementation.
Out of this effort the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District was reactivated with the appointment of five (5) trustees. Two (2) additional trustees were added in 1995. The first meeting of the new Trustees was held on April 11, 1994.
Working with the White County Health Administrator and members of the Shafer and Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation, studies of past data and citizen concerns were reviewed as well as new incoming data from water sampling, property owners, and visitors.
Further study by the Trustees of the Wastewater Collection and Treatment Feasibility Study revealed fourteen (14) areas where the installation of sewers could improve the water quality. The areas were prioritized and in May, 1995 the three areas deemed most critical (Buffalo, Big Monon Bay, and Isle of Homes), were submitted to the Rural Development Agency (RD) (formerly Farmers Home Administration) for grant and loan funding.
Also in 1995, the District territory was expanded to include the Tippecanoe River, and the Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman corridors from the north White County line to the south White County line.
In February, 1996, the District received a Letter of Conditions from the Rural Development Agency for the Big Monon Bay Area. Along with twenty nine (29) conditions the District had to agree to, RD informed the District of the possiblity of a loan not to exceed $4,021,000.00 and a grant not to exceed $2,611,000.00.
The District set about to meet and fulfill the RD conditions and to obtain the temporary financing that would permit the Districts' consultants to develop the plans and specifications, acquire easements, and do the necessary legal and rate work. On May 21, 1996, the District closed on a one million dollar ($1,000,000.00) Bond Anticipation Note (BAN), providing funds as needed to pay bills.
Work progressed and in January, 1997, construction bids were received for three (3) Wetland Treatment facilities and four (4) wastewater STEP collection systems. The bids totaled $9,600,000.00, significantly over the engineering estimate.
During this same period of time, a growing unrest developed within a group of the people living in the Big Monon Bay Area. Complaints ranged from affordability to zany and about everything imaginable in between. Change was demanded and over time and in various ways change was implemented.
New Trustees brought to the Board fresh ideas and an understanding of the
peoples' concerns. They brought new energy and they made hard choices. A new
engineering consultant proposed a mechanical wastewater treatment system with
the potential for significant cost reduction. This is now in the implementation
stage with design plans approved, bidding completed and construction to start in
February 2000.