Delaware County Council gives $3.5 million in ARP money for Oakville sewers

MUNCIE, Ind. — Delaware County Council, at the request of county commissioners, on Tuesday voted to approve spending $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan money to provide funding for sanitary sewers in Oakville and build an extension that will connect to a sewer plant at Mount Summit in Henry County.

The project was included in the first ARP plan offered by the Delaware County commissioners last year at a cost of $4.5 million. It was withdrawn after some questioned the expense of the project that would provide service to the small Delaware County town near the county line.

Earlier this month, commissioners presented the county's third version of the plan for spending ARP funds, which included the Oakville sewer project, this time at a reduced cost of $3.5 million. The latest iteration of the ARP plan is on the county website.

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The sewer project would be under the purview of the Delaware County Regional Wastewater District.

The sewage treatment plant in Mount Summit, about four miles from Oakville, would handle the waste from the sewer.

Revisiting Royerton sewers

Also approved by council on Tuesday was the appropriation of $1.5 million to provide a relief sewer in Royerton and to remedy flow and flooding problems on private property and at the elementary school. Commissioners said that the Royerton sewer project dating back to the late 1990s created problems that DCSWD has been striving to solve.

The plan notes that the solid waste district has no property tax revenue, unlike the Muncie Sanitary District, and needs service fees to fund its operation.

Ryan Webb, the only council member to vote no on the appropriation, said his impression was that the effort is more about funding the wastewater district than about helping people in the small towns, including Oakville. 

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"My primary objection to the Oakville project is the large cost of the project while affecting only a handful of properties," Webb said after the meeting. "I think that $3.5 million could be much better put to use assisting the citizens of our community with thing such as childcare credits and rental assistance vouchers."

Sherry Riggin, president of the commissioners, asked for the sewer work funding at the council along with John Brooke, attorney for commissioners.

"It's something the people in Oakville need," she told the Star Press.

Rethinking reduced pay for new hires

In other business, council members set a special meeting for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday May 31, to consider doing away with or modifying the practice of paying new hires 10% less that their regular salary during the first 90 days of their employment.

Tommie Humbert, county highway superintendent, asked the council to consider removing the lower pay because of the difficulty in hiring and retaining truck drivers with proper training and license at the lower pay rate, even if it is temporary. He said it has made a difference for some employees.

Earlier:Officials reach agreement on spending $1.6M in ARP funds on bonuses for county workers

Webb told other members of the council that 35 people have left the employ of the county and he suspects most left after receiving an ARP bonus earlier this year. Workers had to attest that they would not leave county employment for a year if they took the bonus money.

Riggin said she was unaware if anyone had been enforcing that provision of the bonuses.

"They have a responsibility to stay," said Webb.

David Penticuff is the local government reporter at the Star Press. Contact him at dpenticuff@gannett.com.