Company representative seeks sewer/water hookup; district attorney offers legal referrals

During public comment, Barrett Ritter identified himself as representing Becto Plant Machinery Inc. and said the company is designing a valve-test facility. Ritter said his architects were told Mishawaka utilities would not provide sewer and water hookups unless the property was annexed into the city. "My name is Barrett Ritter. I work for a company, called Becto Plant Machinery Incorporated," he told the board, describing the company's plan to build a facility and need for potable water and sewer services.

Ritter asked whether the board could require Mishawaka utilities to allow a tie-in or whether the company should pursue a state health-department process for septic design. A health-department representative (speaker 7) explained that septic for a commercial site would involve the state and that the county health department has limited authority in these decisions. District Attorney George Lapinios (speaker 9) told Ritter he could provide utility-attorney names and contact information and said, "I think there are some ways that you might be able to proceed given AEP's reluctance to become annexed," offering his phone number for follow-up. The DA characterized the situation as difficult but not a dead end and suggested legal counsel could help navigate extraterritorial and utility-law pathways.

Ritter said the company would pursue counsel and the state process as appropriate. The board offered procedural guidance but did not direct a specific action beyond providing counsel referrals and encouragement to pursue legal avenues.