Sanitary district reports flood response, plant capacity and event plans; board approves $983,594 in claims

Rick Conrad, District Administrator, told the Board of Sanitary Commissioners on April 16 that heavy rain earlier in April produced a brief flood crest that will increase cleanup costs and that the district is continuing a long-term control plan to reduce combined sewer overflows.

The update came as the board approved its April 2 minutes and a register of claims totaling $983,593.96 and discussed possible revenue effects from recently enacted state legislation described in the meeting as “Senate Bill 1.”

The district recorded roughly 4 inches of rain between April 4 and April 7, Conrad said, and the river gauge rose from a normal level of about 4 feet to a crest near 12.5 feet. He credited the engineering staff, and specifically Tom Noble in the engineering department, for preparation and response. "They were available all weekend day and night to respond to any floods or backup calls," Conrad said.

Conrad said the district will face additional expenses to remove waterlogged woody debris — "branches, logs" — left along the levee that must be cleared to allow mowing and levee maintenance. He told the board the debris is heavy and paid for by weight, and that the extra work will likely appear as a cost request on a future agenda.

On wastewater treatment capacity, Conrad said the plant has a permitted capacity of 38,000,000 gallons per day but that actual sewage volumes (excluding stormwater) generally top out near 10,000,000 gallons per day. "In some instances it is simplest to simply separate those storm lines from the sewer lines. In other cases, it's much more cost effective to increase the capacity of the plant," he said, describing the district's long-term control plan to reduce untreated combined sewer overflows into the river.

Conrad outlined upcoming public events the district is coordinating: a shred day at East Central Recycling from April 21–25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; an Earth Day river cleanup on April 22 meeting at the Cardinal Greenway Depot, 700 East Weiser, at 9 a.m.; and a rain-barrel workshop the evening of April 22 that requires registration. He also told commissioners the sanitation and recycling plant will now accept milk, juice and soup cartons for recycling, reversing an earlier restriction related to wax coatings.

A public commenter, Rick Yentzer, described himself as a newsman and author and urged caution on borrowing and taxation. "The senate bill that was signed by the governor yesterday will cost millions. Bill about a billion, the local government," Yentzer said, adding that local governments "need to move within their means." Conrad and Commissioner Clark separately referenced the same recently enacted legislation; Conrad said the district is still evaluating the magnitude of its impact but expects a reduction in property-tax income for the sanitation department and that staff will continue to study the implications for the remainder of the year.

Board business during the meeting included approval of the April 2, 2025 minutes and a register of claims. The minutes were approved after a motion and second by commissioners; the board approved the register of claims, which included a $1 charge (noted by the presiding commissioner) tied to a clearance contractor, My Tree Sons, that performed about 600 feet of levee clearing required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to keep the levee toe clear within 15 feet. Both approvals were taken by voice vote; no individual roll-call tallies were provided.

Commissioners used the additional-topics portion of the agenda for brief remarks: Commissioner Roberts praised engineering staff for preemptive flood work; Commissioner Smith relayed appreciation from Muncie Chief of Police Nathan Sloan for interdepartmental support; and Commissioner Clark reminded the board that stormwater separation projects are federally and state mandated but not fully funded.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of April 2, 2025 — mover: unnamed commissioner; second: unnamed commissioner; outcome: approved by voice vote (individual tallies not specified).

- Register of claims totaling $983,593.96 — mover: unnamed commissioner; second: unnamed commissioner; outcome: approved by voice vote (individual tallies not specified). Note: claims include payment to My Tree Sons for levee clearing under an existing indefinite-quantity contract.

- Motion to adjourn — mover: unnamed commissioner; second: unnamed commissioner; outcome: approved by voice vote.

The board did not take formal action on the long-term control plan or any funding changes related to state legislation during the meeting; Conrad said staff would continue to evaluate options and return with more detail to future meetings.