Cloverdale considers sewer tap policy, fee

Thursday, January 13, 2022

CLOVERDALE — Utilities in Cloverdale are anticipating more residents to tap into its wastewater lines. However, it is not clear where the responsibility lies for a hook-up.

Saying it has been an issue since he became the town manager, Jason Hartman outlined his concerns about having a policy, as well as the fee associated with taps, during the Cloverdale Town Council’s regular meeting Tuesday evening.

Hartman first stated that Cloverdale’s code does not state whether a property owner or the town is responsible for a tap itself. He said some municipalities make property owners responsible for installing laterals and tapping to the main. Meanwhile, other municipalities are responsible to property lines.

According to consultations he had with Street Superintendent Brad Fulk and Wastewater Superintendent Richard Saucerman, the town has required the former. Hartman, however, said he was “not a fan” of this.

“I’m not sure I like having a contractor touch our mains,” Hartman said in terms of the work required, as well as some property owners having to pay for a larger dig if they are across from a main. “I don’t think it’s equitable to everybody involved.”

The other part of the whole issue is the fee for tapping into the sewer, which stands at $1,000 in Cloverdale while Avon charges $5,000. More locally, Hartman said the fee is “on the lower side.”

For his part as a local developer, Don Gedert provided that the tapping requirement has varied over the years. In the past, he said, the town has tapped the sewer and brought it to the side of the road where a property is. Ultimately, he opined that this was a subject that needed specific attention.

Hartman said he would put together a tentative proposal for a policy which Town Attorney Richard Shagley could review. The council in turn agreed to hold a special meeting to consider the updates on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.

In other business:

• Rick Dearwester and Larry Fidler were nominated and approved as the council’s president and vice president, respectively, for 2022. Fidler will succeed Gary Bennington, who has been dealing with health issues, in the latter.

• The council established that it would still hold its regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Cloverdale Town Hall.

• The council approved for furniture and equipment in the town hall’s conference room to be labeled as surplus after being sorted. Hartman said that though it was of “minimal” value, the surplus will be auctioned off by Jeff Rich.

• The council passed Resolution 2022-1 to encumber funds for two projects it approved last year. One was to replace the roof on the log cabin at the Cloverdale Community Park, while the other was to purchase sewage flow meters. Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners explained that these are still in process.

• The council approved for Hartman to purchase a vehicle up to $46,000. Cloverdale Police Reserve Sgt. Kent Goldman, who also works for Andy Mohr Ford, suggested a 2021 Ford F-150 hybrid work truck that would come standard with a generator.

The authorization comes with Hartman being promised a town vehicle when he became town manager last year. As such, he said he wanted a truck that could go into utility service when he eventually leaves. It was also noted that Hartman drew up a tentative bi-annual vehicle replacement plan.

Goldman said the price for the F-150 starts at $52,000, but would be the $46,000 with government concessions. In this vein, Maners said funds to purchase it were available from depreciation and income from recently selling surplus vehicles.

• The council approved a quote for $8,000 to remodel the town hall conference room. While the two contractors who submitted bids were not specifically named, Hartman noted that both were local. The quote does not include furniture.

The council also decided to hold a session on Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. — prior to the meeting on wastewater taps — to consider the town becoming a member of Accelerate Indiana Municipalities. AIM advocates at the state level for municipalities in terms of legislation. The cost to become a member is $1,787.

Bennington was the only council member absent. Meanwhile, Town Marshal Steve Hibler joined Hartman, Maners, Shagley and the rest of the council for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.

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  • Can anyone go to the meeting on the 25th?

    -- Posted by sstuart1002002 on Sun, Jan 16, 2022, at 8:06 PM
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