Muncie sanitary district credits quick repairs after near-catastrophic leak; approves CNG vehicle swap with City of Muncie

The Muncie Board of Sanitary Commissioners on April 2 heard that emergency repairs at the city’s wastewater treatment plant likely prevented a major shutdown and approved an interlocal-agreement amendment that will exchange a past debt for five compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles from the City of Muncie.

District Administrator Rick Conrad told the board that plant staff and contractors addressed a dangerous leak in time to avoid losing the facility’s four main pumps, and that crews installed bypass pumping that kept the plant operating. Conrad said the district estimates the emergency response and equipment costs at about $300,000. "If you would check your nearby storm drains and make sure they're not clogged with leaves and other debris ... it'll really help protect your neighborhood," Conrad said, urging residents to clear drains ahead of expected rainfall.

The repairs followed a leak described at the board’s previous meeting; Jason Ingram, the plant superintendent, led the immediate repair work. Commissioner Smith offered praise for Ingram and plant staff during the meeting.

The board also voted to amend an interlocal cooperation agreement with the City of Muncie under Resolution 2025-04. Under the amendment, the sanitary district will erase a previously agreed fee tied to fueling and outfitting police vehicles for CNG use in exchange for five CNG vehicles the city is removing from its fleet. Rick Conrad said the police department’s use of CNG has declined as the department has shifted toward electric and hybrid vehicles, leaving only "one or two" cars still refueled at the district's CNG station.

Conrad described the swap as a way to clear the district’s outstanding receivable after more than a decade of changing vehicle use. The resolution passed with no nays.

Conrad also reported several operational and customer-service items: the district will complete a mandated municipal stormwater training for regular employees this week, as required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), and starting in April new service connections will carry a $135 security deposit collected via Indiana American Water Company when customers call to activate drinking water service. Conrad said the deposit will be returned when customers properly disconnect and settle final bills and is intended to reduce unpaid final balances.

Sanitation and Recycling staff selected neighborhood cleanups for May, with teams scheduled for May 3 at Old West End Industry, Thomas Park and South Central; May 10 at McKinley, Riverside, Morningside and Whiteley; and May 17 at Southside and East Central, Conrad said.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the minutes from its March 19, 2025 meeting (motion and second recorded; the board chair said he would abstain due to absence at the prior meeting; minutes approved), approved a register of claims totaling $406,791.69, and adopted Resolution 2025-04 amending the interlocal cooperation agreement with the City of Muncie to accept five CNG vehicles in exchange for cancelling the outstanding fee.

The board adjourned after the votes.