Muncie sanitation board marks IDEM approval of long-term control plan as administrator departs; multiple resolutions approved

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Muncie Board of Sanitary Commissioners on Nov. 26 announced that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has provided written approval for the district’s long-term control plan for combined sewer overflows, a yearslong effort the board said will reduce costs compared with earlier proposals. District Administrator Rick Conrad, speaking at his final board meeting, called the IDEM sign-off a milestone after work that began "since at least 2012."

Conrad said the IDEM approval gives the district more flexibility in addressing combined sewer overflows and credited dozens of board members, engineering firms and legal teams for the result. "It has been a long haul to get to this point," he said. "I'm very appreciative." Chair (unnamed) later framed the financial implications, saying the district will spend about $160,000,000 to comply under the approved plan compared with prior proposals the chair described as roughly "half 1,000,000,000" or about $750,000,000, characterizing the approved approach as a substantial savings for residents.

The board also used…