ANDERSON — Madison County has submitted a petition to the state to create a rural utility district in Monroe Township for the development of a sanitary sewer.
The petition was submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on July 31. It would create the district which will include the unincorporated areas of Monroe Township.
“The need for the proposed district has long been recognized by residents and businesses in the area,” the petition reads.
The rural utility district would be created to provide a sanitary sewage disposal system in areas where current onsite septic systems have either failed or are approaching the end of their useful life.
Residents learned that the selected alternative by Commonwealth Engineering for the project would cost an estimated $20.5 million.
The commissioners and council have already approved $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to resolve the issue.
Proposed financing includes the sale of bonds, the Indiana Finance Authority State Revolving Loan Fund and county revenue sources.
The Madison County Commissioners Tuesday approved the second phase of the study being done by Commonwealth Engineering in the Scotts and Phillips additions.
“We knew there would be additional work required,” County Engineer Jessica Bastin said. “The work will include an existing infrastructure survey and establishing a base line to design a septic and stormwater system.”
The intention is to connect the system to the Alexandria septic system for treatment.
The commissioners approved an appropriation of $105,000 for the additional work.
In 2023 the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 over raw sewage flowing into Pipe Creek.
The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott’s Addition.
The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a concrete storm sewer pipe was broken.
“The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,” the inspection found. “The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.”
A five-member board of trustees will oversee the rural utility district if approved by the state.
The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, the Madison County Council, the Alexandria mayor, the county health department and the Monroe Township trustee each making an appointment.