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Property owners urge county to reject proposed Blackford County Sewer District as engineers brief council
Summary
More than 850 property owners, represented at a joint special session, urged Blackford County leaders to oppose creation of a county sewer district; county engineers told officials the state (IDEM) encourages but does not require the project and offers long-term waivers. The Council will consider the district on Oct. 8, 2025.
At a joint special session on Sept. 17, resident Dennis Layman told county leaders he represented a petition he said had been signed by over 850 property owners and urged officials "to get all facts before rushing into this project. The Commissioners and Council need to vote "no" for the formation of the Blackford County Sewer District."
Thomas Barclay of Commonwealth Engineers told commissioners and council members that the sewer project is not mandated by the state agency IDEM but is "highly encouraged," and that "they offer 20 years of waivers," advising the boards to update district planning to reflect recent council membership changes. The boards did not take a vote that night; officials placed the Blackford County Sewer District item on the County Council agenda for Oct. 8, 2025, for further consideration.
Why it matters: creation of a sanitary district can change local taxing authority, infrastructure planning and service boundaries; public opposition of the scale Layman described could shape how council members approach any formation ordinance or enabling steps. Officials present included County Commissioner Vice President Dan Borgenheimer and County Council President Jack Beckley, who confirmed the item will return to the council for formal consideration on Oct. 8.
