District to seek lower cellular monitoring costs; staff to investigate grinder damage and ongoing compliance issues

Board members spent substantial time on operations and compliance matters, urging staff and the district's operations contractor to seek lower monitoring costs for lift stations and to pursue responsible parties for equipment damage.

Several board members reported unusually high telephone or cellular charges for lift-station monitoring. The Austin lift station was discussed as an example, with a figure cited in the meeting near $482.27 for the monitoring connection. Members asked Ashbury, the district's operations contractor, and staff to contact telecommunications providers such as AT&T and others to determine whether a lower-cost cellular monitoring option or an Internet-based monitor is available.

The group contrasted costs in different electric service territories: NIPSCO allows a negotiated flat fee at some sites, while AEP charges per metered panel and can be more expensive. Board members said the district has attempted to negotiate lower costs in AEP zones where possible but without success to date.

Separately, staff reported a damaged grinder control panel at the Marathon lift station that had been struck and may have been run over. Staff said they would look for a crash report to identify a responsible party and determine whether repair costs should be billed to a third party; members noted heavy contractor activity near a nearby AEP substation and asked staff to check whether subcontractor traffic might be related.

The board also discussed an ongoing Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) matter related to Granger. A staff update said the judge had granted a 30-day extension and that testimony is due at the end of the month; the district's IURC attorney is continuing work on the filing. Board members asked whether they preferred a more detailed, possibly executive-session update on litigation strategy; several members said they would like an executive-session briefing.

Board members reopened earlier concerns about illegal or unpermitted work on private properties and septic systems. Staff said some property owners had replaced tanks without permits and that the health department has been involved; staff are working through affected sites to collect permits, payments and correct paperwork.

An area-plan inquiry also was reported: South Bend was told that a property seeking water and sewer connection would likely be cost-prohibitive because it would require a 3,000-to-4,000-foot extension to reach the Auton pump station. Board members discussed easement options through nearby Bradford Shores as a potential alternative but characterized the connection as likely expensive unless outside funding was secured.

Board members directed staff to follow up with Ashbury and telecommunications contacts about monitoring costs, to search for a crash report related to the Marathon station damage, and to consider an executive-session briefing on the IURC matter.