Sewer District Legislation
By Lamont Neal on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 |
I wish to state that I do not want any waters, potable or recreational, to be polluted. I support reasonable restrictions on my freedoms and reasonable actions to maintain a healthy and safe environment. If someone has a failing or failed on-site septic systems they should immediately correct that condition! In 1997 the US EPA and Congress issued a finding that private on-site septic systems that were properly sited, installed and maintained, provided homeowners a viable method to dispose of waste. Many professionals have written that a system utilizing the above and functioning properly does no harm to the environment. Some write that this simple system, utilizing nature and no energy, is so remarkable that the process evades human reason or understanding. The state code defines a failed or failing on-site septic system.
Many Regional Waste Districts, in my opinion, are so intent in eliminating all on-site systems, regardless of working status, that they disregard the opinions of the EPA and others, more learned than I, that adding sewers alone will not improve the water quality.
There is a bill in Indiana House of Representative to correct a legislative action that allowed sewer districts unchecked powers that allowed them to force a homeowner to connect and pay fees, even if the homeowner's septic system is operating properly. Here in this district, the fine for not connecting, when they pass within 300 feet of your property is $500.00 per day. Several hundred homeowners have had liens placed on their property and these are on the block at Sheriff's sale. House Bill 1225 would allow Hoosiers the freedom to choose if they connect to a district sewer system, as long as the current system is functioning within the established guidelines. If your system is in a state of failure, as I read the bill, a homeowners would be required correct any deficiencies or connect. This important bill has a committee hearing set for this Wednesday, January 18, 2012.
I ask that you contact your representative and make your voice heard for the cause of freedom. The telephone number for the Indiana State House is 800-382-9842, email to www.in/gov or write to 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
You can also sign a statewide petition opposing mandatory sewer connection using http://indianafreedoms.org.
Jim Salway
Comments...
Debbie Hoffman posted on January 21st, 2012 @ 12:29:00Mr. Salway- Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Unfortunately, we are among the hundreds of homeowners in Huntington County that have been forced to connect to sanitary sewer systems. Through the Rural Huntington RWSD, we are connected, but have not yet destroyed our operational septic system due to the unusually warm weather we have had - no way to get equipment in to the site.
Hopefully this bill will pass and others won't be in the situation we are in - no testing, no investigation, forced hook-up!
Dale Arnett posted on February 2nd, 2012 @ 21:28:41HB 1225 is going to the Senate for consideration. Please call, write and email your State Senator in support of this bill which will allow Indiana citizens freedom of choice if they have a non polluting alternative to the rural public sewers.
DAVID CASTLEMAN posted on February 10th, 2012 @ 14:05:08I LIVE IN GRANGER, IN 46530. THE REGIONAL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT
BOARD (MARC NELSON, COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, AND JESSICA CLARK, HAVE HARASSED AND BADGERED THE RESIDENTS TO ACCEPT, BY FORCE,
THEIR MANDATES TO CURE THEIR PERCIEVED PROBLEM WITH THEIR SOLUTIONS. THEIR WAS NO COMPROMISE AND LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE APROACH TO A VIABLE SOLUTION MADE WITH LESS HASTE AND MORE CONSIDERATION FOR THE HOME OWNERS WHO WILL ULTIMATELY PAY THE BILLS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF ELDERLY (OVER 65 AND 70) SIMPLY TO DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO COMPLY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER/COUNTY ENG.,IS AN APPOINTED, NOT ELECTED OFFICIAL.
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