Board praises crews, weighs accelerated generator program after storm

Board members and staff credited crews and mutual‑aid partners for a rapid response after a recent storm that left many lift stations without power.

"We were able to hook that up," a staff member said as the board described help from the city of Warsaw and five generators provided through the county Emergency Management Agency. Board members said the utility field crews worked around the clock to keep service running and to protect customers from sewage backups.

The operational strain prompted renewed calls to accelerate the permanent generator program. "I would recommend to this board that uh we do uh like seven generators every year uh as an ongoing basis," Committee member John said, arguing the current replacement pace leaves the system vulnerable when multiple stations lose power.

Members discussed prioritizing larger lift stations for onsite generators and using portable units or strategic siting where a permanent unit would be disruptive to neighbors. The board agreed to consider generator funding when preparing the next fiscal year's budget.