About a dozen citizens from Tyner appeared during the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Monday to voice their concerns with a possible Regional Sewer District that could eventually force them to connect to a sewer treatment plant.
Tim Kazanecki who lives on Walnut Street in Tyner asked the commissioners what the benefit was for the citizens of Tyner to have a sewer treatment facility. Commissioner Mike Burroughs said, “The benefit has been shown that property values increase when sewers are placed in properties.”
County Attorney Jim Clevenger told Kazanecki he will be able to properly dispose of his sewage, which would be the biggest gain.” Clevenger went on to say the County Health Department has reported that the Tyner community has a number of septic systems that don’t comply with state law. He continued, “While you are getting rid of your sewage fine-and-dandy now, it’s anticipated that as those systems have more and more issues, folks in Tyner are going to have more and more issues of having a proper way of disposing of their sewage.” He said there are locations in the county where people can’t live in their homes because they can’t get rid of their sewage.
Kazanecki asked if the sewer system is installed and you have a properly working septic, would you be forced to hook up to the new system?
Attorney Clevenger said, “Typically if they do a system in your area you would be required to hook in.” He said if someone has recently expended funds to put in a new septic there could be accommodations. He again noted this project is way, way out there in the planning stages.
Commissioner Burroughs explained that if created, the Regional Sewer District board of directors will review all the information from the engineers and make the determination of which areas they will begin working on with their first project.
The final question from Mr. Kazaneski was asking for the proper way to proceed to comment, fight and disagree with this proposal.
The County Attorney said the first opportunity could be to fight the creation of a Regional Sewer District. There will be a public hearing by the Commissioners and then a petition will be filed in court with an opportunity to voice opposition at the commissioners meeting and in the courts. If the district is formed, then the Regional Sewer board determines the projects. If they want to move forward with Tyner there would be another opportunity to go before that board and make an objection.
During the public comment of the Commissioners meeting Christine Miller who lives on French Street said she put in a new septic in the last three months because she had a drywell. She also asked about the process of getting roads fixed.
Miller asked about the accommodations that might be available for her since she just put in a new septic and the County Attorney said, “In some cases where people have put in new system, they went through an expense they may not require you to tie in immediately or if they do require you to tie in they may discount what fees you might have to pay because you went through that expense. This is all hypothetical.”
Sharon Leathers who lives on Sycamore Road in Tyner said, “I had the privilege of going around when I found out about this idea to put in a sewer system. We are a very small community, and the financial hardship would be very difficult. I did not realize how poor our community is until I started going around to the homes and knocking on the doors and asking them what they thought about this sewer system.” She presented a petition with 70 people on it who can’t afford the hook-up and monthly fee. She said they have heard $80 to $90 monthly fees and possibly $4,000 to hook up to the system. She asked what will happen to those who can’t pay?
Mrs. Leathers said there’s a lack of communication. “Why do we have to hear on the radio station?” She continued, “If you are going to continue on with that, we need better communication, send us a letter.”
Ron Burch from Vine Street in Tyner told the commissioners he canvassed part of Teagarden and found only 1 resident in favor of the creation of a sewer system and 17 who were against. He said most of them told him the county should, “fix our roads and leave us alone.” Mr. Burch did ask for solid figures for the connection fee and the monthly charge, “We just want to be left alone.”
Mr. Burch asked where the treatment plant would be built or if the sewage would be pumped to Plymouth. He then said, “If people that are between the sewer plants that may have to be built or the line coming to Plymouth, if they will be forced to hook up?” He continued, “We believe that eventually you are going to try and get just about everyone to tie in.” Ron Burch closed his comments saying, “You two gentlemen (Commissioner Burroughs and Klotz) are elected and you sir (County Attorney Clevenger) are paid by the county, you work for us. We would like you to leave us alone.”
