Sewer Project Wins the 1st Round

By The Indianapolis Star

Oct. 21–A City-County Council committee unanimously approved a $435 million sewer project Thursday intended to reduce pollution and rid the city of septic tanks.

Proposed by Mayor Bart Peterson, the project would connect properties with septic tanks to new sewer lines across the city. It is the second phase of what will become a 20-year plan to reduce raw sewage overflows from an average of 63 per year to four, and stop flooding in streets and homes countywide.

The project would mean higher water and sewer rates for residents countywide, but at a public meeting of the council’s Public Works Committee, each of the 15 residents who commented on the plan supported it.

“I live on the Southwestside of town, and our ground is saturated,” said Karen Seay. “Our sinks and bathtubs back up with water even though we drain our tank three times a year. I only wish we could get the sewer lines in faster.”

DPW Director Jim Gerrard told the committee the new rates would bump up sewer costs on monthly water bills for the average homeowner in Marion County to $17.96 by 2008 from $9.59 today. Storm water fees would increase $1, to $2.25 per month, on next spring’s property tax bills. In addition, a sewer connection fee of $2,500 would be imposed on all new home construction.

At the same time, the city would end its much-reviled Barrett Law, which allows the city to force homes with failing septic systems to pay $8,000 to $12,000 for sewer connections under the threat of property seizure. The city would forgive any outstanding Barrett Law debts.

There are 30,000 septic tanks in the county, and 18,000 are classified as failing.

The head of the Dirty Dozen Hunting and Fishing Club, A. Joe King,said he hoped the reduction in raw sewage overflows into Fall Creek would make it a desirable place to fish again.

“I was raised on Fall Creek. I fished there every day and ate carp three times a week,” King said. “Now they’ve got warning signs all over the place saying don’t eat the fish.”

The full council will consider the proposal at its Oct. 31 meeting.

By John Tuohy and Brendan O’Shaughnessy

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