Sanitation district outlines new plant, trunk-line options and hookup rules; $10M grant available

Sanitation-district staff updated Spencer County officials on planned repairs, routes for new trunk lines and funding for a new wastewater plant, saying engineers estimate the new treatment facility at about $5 million and a main collection line at about $2.5 million, with roughly $10,050,000 in WRIS grant funds allocated for the program.

The briefing covered immediate operational problems — particularly infiltration and inflow (I&I) blamed on improper connections and buried or damaged manholes — and longer-term construction planning. Sue Morris, the sanitation district office manager, said the district has a new public website (spencercountysanitationdistrict.com) with customer-service forms, online bill payment and information for new developers.

The district reported 22 customers more than 90 days past due; staff said they have identified those customers and plan to send certified letters as part of collections work. Staff also described planned field work: a jet‑cleaning and camera inspection scheduled with contractor True Test and additional digs to expose buried or damaged manholes. Staff said some private basement sump pumps and direct gutter/tile connections are contributing to elevated flows and that the district will notify property owners and may disconnect noncompliant connections after notice.

Why this matters: the district is balancing near-term repairs to reduce I&I — which increases daily flows and the plant’s operating costs — with a multi‑year plan to build a larger plant and several trunk‑line collectors. County officials pressed staff on how mandatory hook-ups would apply to lots and single houses near new mains and on whether the district can and will require connection of existing homes within 1,500 linear feet of a collection line.

Key facts - Engineers’ rough estimate for a new treatment plant: about $5,000,000; estimated main-collection construction cost: about $2,500,000; combined estimated project cost cited by staff: about $7,500,000. - WRIS grant awarded to the district: $10,050,000; staff reported funds remaining in the district WRIS account of roughly $9,123,007.33 (after prior draws and expenses). Staff said about $560,000 is reserved to pay engineering fees already under contract. - Customers more than 90 days past due: 22 (staff identified these customers and said certified letters will be sent). - Short-term operations: a camera run and jet-clean scheduled the morning after the meeting; staff reported a problematic drop-box manhole and a short run where the camera could not pass due to apparent damage or restriction.

Hook-up requirements and waivers County staff reviewed the sanitation-district ordinance that governs mandatory connections. The court read language from Ordinance No. 4, Fiscal Year 2008 — the ordinance that created the sanitation district — which states that an occupied building located no greater than 1,500 linear feet from a sewer collection line is deemed accessible and must connect at the owner’s expense unless a centralized-sewer connection waiver is granted. Section 5 (centralized sewer connection waiver) allows property owners to apply for a waiver by showing an approved on-site system (through the Spencer County Health Department or the Kentucky Division of Water); the sanitation district can require an inspection if documentation is not available.

Board members and county officials discussed common scenarios that may lead to waiver requests: a single-acre lot within 1,500 feet but with no reasonable place to run a lateral, the expense of running forced main across multiple private properties, or lack of easements. Staff repeatedly said decisions on individual waivers will be made case-by-case, guided by the ordinance and consultation with counsel.

Route options and timeline Engineers presented three route options for trunk-line routing. Staff said the collector will include a mix of gravity and force-main segments depending on route choice; the pump station would be sited near one of several candidate locations identified in the facility plan. Staff indicated the new plant and trunk lines are planned as a multi‑year effort: engineers estimate roughly two to three years to complete plant construction after bidding, and district officials said they expect the plant to be ready to build in roughly three years under typical scenarios. The district plans to keep the existing plant in service as a backup as long as it is financially and operationally viable.

Funding and draws Staff said the WRIS grant is interest-bearing and that the district has approved four draws so far (including a draw to purchase the existing plant). Approximately $560,000 was described as preallocated to engineering services and sitting in the WRIS account awaiting billing. Staff said further draws will follow needs for construction and engineering and that some state review and public hearings (facility plan review in Frankfort) are still pending.

Discussion and direction Officials repeatedly framed the current work as balancing near-term I&I repairs and collections with long-term expansion to serve new development. Directions recorded during the meeting included: staff will send certified letters to delinquent accounts; staff scheduled jet cleaning and camera inspection to locate line restrictions; staff said they will continue to work with engineers on route selection and to prepare the next WRIS draw documentation. No formal vote on construction was taken at the meeting.

Ending: county officials asked staff to continue outreach to property owners, to provide copies of the facility plan and feasibility study to court members, and to return with route recommendations and updated cost estimates as planning moves toward bid-ready documents.