County considers partnering with Henryville

Clark County

Discussion

December 10, 2009

Move would turn sanitation company into regional sewer district

BY BRADEN LAMMERS The News and Tribune Thu Dec 10, 2009, 11:13 PM EST

The Clark County Commissioners agreed to look into an agreement that would partner them with the Henryville Membership Sanitation Corporation in order for the corporation to receive funding from the State Revolving Fund.

Clark County has been asked to partner with Henryville because the sewer system is a non-for-profit entity and therefore does not qualify for the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act loan.

Greg Fifer, attorney for the commissioners, who has also advised the Henryville Sanitation Corporation, along with corporation operation Doug Dunlevy, presented the plan to the commissioners.

The plan would essentially make the Henryville Membership Sanitation Corporation a regional sewer district within Clark County, and therefore a public utility. Rationale for the partnership comes from the desire of local entities to connect to Henryville’s sewers.

“They have been working with INDOT and the Department of Corrections that both have facilities that would like to connect to the Henryville system,” Fifer said.

However, in order for the proposal to work the entities must act quickly.

“With stimulus monies available there is a unique opportunity, there is a short window, where those lines could be built through the State Revolving loan program,” Fifer said. “Once those facilities are fully completed, then the loan will be forgiven, they’re in a program where [the loan] becomes a grant and so the only catch is ... the Henryville system ... is not an eligible loan recipient directly.”

A memorandum of understanding would outline that the county would own the facilities, the Henryville corporation would operate the system and the county would not be responsible for any shortfall or additional costs the sewer corporation may incur.

Due to the small window of time funds can be applied for, the commissioners needed to authorize bids to go out for the work, so they can be received at a January meeting. Continuation of the agreement is contingent upon getting the SRF funding.

The commissioners approved seeking bids for work, but tabled entering into the agreement with Henryville’s Corporation until its next meeting.

In addition, the five directors of the regional sewer district would be appointed by the commissioners.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• Clark County Health Department Director Mike Meyer came before the commissioners seeking approval for three grants.

The first grant is a bio-terrorism grant of $5,000 related to the activities of organizing a medical reserve corps; a second grant is a $50,000 grant for the health department’s STD program, which is an extension of its current grant; and a third grant is a $15,000 grant for the continuation of the Health Department’s AIDS program.

All three grants were unanimously approved.

Meyer also provided an update on the county’s H1N1 program.

Nearly 60 percent of students in Greater Clark County Schools have received at least one dose of the vaccination, Meyer said.

The Health Department also plans on holding another vaccination clinic at the old Kmart building on Lewis and Clark Parkway in Clarksville, on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The clinic will be open to the general public with no restrictions on recipients.

• Clark County Emergency Management Director Brad Meixell asked the commissioners to pay a bill for services related to the 911 system.

Currently, the quarterly payment due is $75,110.

The commissioners declared an emergency to pay the bill out of the cumulative capital fund.

An expectation is that once LOIT money begins to come in — probably sometime around May or June 2010 — the cumulative capital fund will be reimbursed for its payment.

The date for the next regularly held commissioners meeting has been changed to Dec. 22 at 4 p.m.