Updated Dec 18, 2022

• Facebook Post – Brown County Matters.  

Sewer Boards Joint Project Meeting Notes – Dec 13, 2022 noon to 1:30. Helmsburg and Brown County Regional Sewer Districts (RSD) and contractors:

Background Information – Context.  2020  Regional Assistance Program (RAP) – Regionalization Study – Helmsburg, Lake Lemon/Trevlac, Bean Blossom. Brown County Democrat: The Bean Blossom-Helmsburg sewer regionalization report is out. Here’s what it said. All these options have a price. The price for each (in Millions) — just to build it, not the annual costs for operation, repairs, and maintenance — is listed below.

• • Bean Blossom regional (BB1): $29,474,100
  • Bean Blossom local (BB2): $10,151,200
  • Bean Blossom local/Helmsburg regional (BB2 and H2): $28,612,500
  • Bean Blossom regional/Helmsburg as-is (BB3): $28,397,300
  • Helmsburg regional (H1): $28,478,500
  • Trevlac regional/Bean Blossom local (T1 and BB2): $25,367,000
  • Trevlac regional/Bean Blossom local/Helmsburg as-is (T2 and BB2): $23,897,100

Application Submittal – Target Date April 1, 2023, is the target date for the boards to submit their project for funding by the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the USDA.  USDA requirements include reviewing a completed (shovel-ready) package including all easements.  Applications requirements include the completion of Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER), and a  Rate Study.

• • Indiana.
    • IFA: State Revolving Fund (SRF)
    • Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). Indiana’s Wastewater State Revolving Fund (WWSRF) Loan Program provides low-interest-rate financing to construct water quality protection projects. As loans are repaid, money is available to be used again for new financings, thus making the program a “revolving fund.”
    • Asset Management Program Guidance and Documents

• • USDA:
    • Rural Development, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA), Indiana
    • Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program .
      • PDF 508_RD__FS_RUS_WEPDirect

Projected Costs.  The target rate has been (prior to inflation) at the $65-85 a month range. Helmsburg customers are paying 92.50 a month. The PER also requires an asset management plan that will provide customers with projected increases in costs over time.  A 2017 Income survey of county residents identified that 53.1% of county residents were in the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) category. Consequently, higher costs for utilities (current and future) are a concern.

Project Description.  Helmsburg RSD is working to repair/replace its sewer plant and obtain more customers from the Lake Lemon area and Helmsburg. The BCRSD’s project to build a new plant in Bean Blossom failed (after 3 years and 200K) due to their failure to obtain land. They would also have needed to obtain about 190 easements. Their current plan is for HRSD to provide service to what they consider to be their customers.

Project Costs. The desire for guaranteed fixed-price contracts for construction was discussed.  The general consensus is that inflation will be a factor.

Funding – Planning.  American Rescue Plan Funding. The County provided Helmsburg RSD with 340K and the BCRSD  300K. The council has also provided the BCRSD with 270K in 2019 – about 50K is left.

Project Planning. Typically, only one RSD would be needed for such a project. The BCRSD has no capability to provide service to customers. The scope of their involvement is to manage the collection of wastewater for new customers. The HRSD will treat the wastewater.

Contractor Support.

• • Reedy Financial Services. They will be developing the required rate study for both RSDs.
  • BCRSD. Beam, Longest, and Neff (BLN) will be developing the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for BCRSD.
  •  Lochmueller Group will be developing the PERs for Helmsburg.
  • Bond Counsel. TBD.

Need and Justification.

HRSD. An aging plant and request for service by Lake Lemon Residents that have proven a valid need and have community support. In flooding conditions, over 200 homes have failed septic systems in the Lake Lemon area. Not a new issue but unlike BEAN Blossom, never considered a priority in the county.

Economic Development.

BCRSD.  Per the current commissioners, the desire for expanding sewer service is economic development – a “want.” Economic development is also a priority in the State.

History. The BCRSD originated from the Bean Blossom RSD. Per Commissioner Biddle, the desire for sewer service in Bean Blossom was initiated over about 20 years ago by her mother – a realtor/developer. Other commercial interests include Brownies Restuarant, the Bean Blossom Trailer Park, and the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground.

An agreement and funding to receive service from either Nashville or Helmsburg were never reached. A few years ago, the Bean Blossom RSD was transitioned to the Brown County RSD.

Boundaries. The territory for the BCRSD includes the entire county minus the existing territories covered by current sewer plants in Nashville, Gnawbone, and Helmsburg.

Need. The two previous BCRSD Board presidents resigned due to the lack of support for documenting a need, e.g., proof of failing septic system.  This is not an issue for the current Board whose president acknowledged that he has commercial interests in Bean Blossom that can benefit from sewer services.

The BCRSD is proposing a “need” based on the age of homes that infers that respective septic system may have outlived their useful life.  Per the EPA and Presby, a well-designed and maintained system can have an indefinite life.

Soils? It has been identified that not all the soils in Brown County are conducive to septic systems. Since around the 1990’s, the state has required soil testing in order to get a permit. No issues have been identified in the county of a systemic problem, e.g., permits being declined.

Violation of State Law?  A failing septic system would be in violation of state law. To validate the assumption by the BCRSD that there is a sufficient number of failing systems to justify the expense of providing sewer service, will approving agencies require evidence of need?

Water Quality Study. A water study has also been conducted in the Bean Blossom area and has identified that “some” septic systems “may be: contributing to e-coli in the streams.  No analysis has been conducted to confirm the assumption, e.g., which systems and how many may be contributing to the problem?

Sewer Boards Joint Project Meeting Notes – Dec 13, 2022 noon to 1:30. Helmsburg and Brown County Regional Sewer Districts (RSD) and contractors:  The BCRSD Board also met Dec 13, 2022 at 6:00 -7:00 p.m.

Next Joint meeting with contractors Dec 21, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Location likely the Brown County Community Church in Helmsburg.

Application Submittal. April 1, 2023 is the target date for the boards to submit their project for funding by the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the USDA.  USDA requirements include reviewing a completed (shovel-ready) package including all easements.  Applications requirements include completion of Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER), and a  Rate Study.

Projected Costs.  The target rate has been (prior to inflation) at the $65-85 a month range. Helmsburg customers are paying 92.50 a month. The PER also requires an asset management plan that will provide customers with the projected increases in costs over time.  A 2017 Income survey of county residents identified that 53.1% of county were in the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) category.

Project Description.  Helmsburg RSD is working to repair/replace their sewer plant and obtain more customers from the Lake Lemon area and Helmsburg. The BCRSD’s project to build a new plant in Bean Blossom failed (after 3 years and 200K) due to their failure to obtain land. They would also would have needed to obtain about 190 easements. Their current plan is for HRSD to provide service to what they consider to be their customers.

Project Costs. The desire for guaranteed fixes price contracts for construction was discussed.  General consensus is that inflation will be a factor.

Funding – Planning.  American Rescue Plan Funding. The County provided Helmsburg RSD with 340K and the BCRSD  300K. The council has also provided the BCRSD with 270K in 2019 – about 50K is left.

Project Planning. Typically, only one RSD would be needed for such a project. The BCRSD has no capability to provide service to customers. The scope of their involvement is to manage the collection of wastewater for new customers. The HRSD will treat the wastewater.

Contractor Support.

Reedy Financia Services. They will be developing the required rate study for both RSDs.

BCRSD. Beam, Longest and Neff (BLN).https://b-l-n.com/ will be developing he Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for BCRSD.

Lochmueller Group https://www.lochgroup.com/ will be developing the PERs for Helmsburg.

Bond Counsel. TBD.

Need and Justification.

HRSD. An aging plant and request for service by Lake Lemon Residents that have proven a valid need and have community support. In flooding conditions, over 200 homes have failed septic systems.

Economic Development.

BCRSD.  Per the current commissioners, the desire for expanding sewer service is economic development. The BCRSD originated from the Bean Blossom RSD.

History. Per commissioner Biddle, the desite for sewer service in Bean Blossom was initiated over about 20 years ago by her mother – a realtor/developer.  An agreement and funding to receive service from either Nashville or Helmsburg was never reached. A few years ago, the Bean Blossom RSD was transition to the Brown County RSD.

Boundaries. The territory for the BCRSD included the entire county minus the existing terrtueroy covered by current sewer plants in Nashville, Gnawbone, and Helmsburg.

Need. The two previous BCRSD Board presidents resigned due to the lack of support for documenting a need, e.g., proof of failing septic system.  This is not an issue for the current Board whose president acknowledged that he has commercial interests in Bean Blossom that can benefit from sewer services.

The BCRSD is proposing a “need” based on the age of homes that infers that respective septic system may have outlived their useful life.  Per the EPA and Presby, a well designed and maintained system can have an indefinite life.

Violation of State Law?  A failing septic system would be in violation of state law. To validate the assumption by the BCRSD that there is a sufficient number of failing systems to justify the expense of providing sewer service, will approving agencies require evidence of need?

Water Quality Study. A water study has also been conducted in the Bean Blossom area and has identified that “some” septic systems “may be: contributing to e-coli in the streams.  No analysis has been conducted to confirm the assumption, e.g., which systems and how many may be contributing to the problem?

– Dec 13, 2022 noon to 1:30. Helmsburg and Brown County Regional Sewer Districts (RSD) and contractors:  The BCRSD Board  also met Dec 13, 2022 at 6:00 -7:00 p.m.

Next Joint meeting with contractors Dec 21, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Location likely the Brown County Community Church in Helmsburg.

Application Submittal. April 1, 2023 is the target date for the boards to submit their project for funding by the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the USDA.  USDA requirements include reviewing a completed (shovel-ready) package including all easements.  Applications requirements include completion of Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER), and a  Rate Study.

Projected Costs.  The target rate has been (prior to inflation) at the $65-85 a month range. Helmsburg customers are paying 92.50 a month. The PER also requires an asset management plan that will provide customers with the projected increases in costs over time.  A 2017 Income survey of county residents identified that 53.1% of county were in the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) category.

Project Description.  Helmsburg RSD is working to repair/replace their sewer plant and obtain more customers from the Lake Lemon area and Helmsburg. The BCRSD’s project to build a new plant in Bean Blossom failed (after 3 years and 200K) due to their failure to obtain land. They would also would have needed to obtain about 190 easements. Their current plan is for HRSD to provide service to what they consider to be their customers.

Project Costs. The desire for guaranteed fixes price contracts for construction was discussed.  General consensus is that inflation will be a factor.

Funding – Planning.  American Rescue Plan Funding. The County provided Helmsburg RSD with 340K and the BCRSD  300K. The council has also provided the BCRSD with 270K in 2019 – about 50K is left.

Project Planning. Typically, only one RSD would be needed for such a project. The BCRSD has no capability to provide service to customers. The scope of their involvement is to manage the collection of wastewater for new customers. The HRSD will treat the wastewater.

Contractor Support.

Reedy Financia Services. They will be developing the required rate study for both RSDs.

BCRSD. Beam, Longest and Neff (BLN).https://b-l-n.com/ will be developing he Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for BCRSD.

Lochmueller Group https://www.lochgroup.com/ will be developing the PERs for Helmsburg.

Bond Counsel. TBD.

Need and Justification.

HRSD. An aging plant and request for service by Lake Lemon Residents that have proven a valid need and have community support. In flooding conditions, over 200 homes have failed septic systems.

Economic Development.

BCRSD.  Per the current commissioners, the desire for expanding sewer service is economic development. The BCRSD originated from the Bean Blossom RSD.

History. Per commissioner Biddle, the desite for sewer service in Bean Blossom was initiated over about 20 years ago by her mother – a realtor/developer.  An agreement and funding to receive service from either Nashville or Helmsburg was never reached. A few years ago, the Bean Blossom RSD was transition to the Brown County RSD.

Boundaries. The territory for the BCRSD included the entire county minus the existing terrtueroy covered by current sewer plants in Nashville, Gnawbone, and Helmsburg.

Need. The two previous BCRSD Board presidents resigned due to the lack of support for documenting a need, e.g., proof of failing septic system.  This is not an issue for the current Board whose president acknowledged that he has commercial interests in Bean Blossom that can benefit from sewer services.

The BCRSD is proposing a “need” based on the age of homes that infers that respective septic system may have outlived their useful life.  Per the EPA and Presby, a well designed and maintained system can have an indefinite life.

Violation of State Law?  A failing septic system would be in violation of state law. To validate the assumption by the BCRSD that there is a sufficient number of failing systems to justify the expense of providing sewer service, will approving agencies require evidence of need?

Water Quality Study. A water study has also been conducted in the Bean Blossom area and has identified that “some” septic systems “may be: contributing to e-coli in the streams.  No analysis has been conducted to confirm the assumption, e.g., which systems and how many may be contributing to the problem?