Galligan Tries to Present City with Fait Accompli
Goliath News Bureau
SCOOP !!!!!!
Contact: Larry Thomas, Communications Director For Immediate Release
Cell Phone: 812-786-9727 Friday, April 15, 2011
EPA, IDEM accept CSO Long-Term Control Plan with canal option for Jeffersonville
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management have presented Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan with a letter from both agencies confirming the acceptance of the Jeffersonville Sanitary Sewer Board’s Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control plan option that includes the use of a canal to convey storm water to the Ohio River.
The letter, signed by EPA Region 5 Water Division Director Tinka Hyde and IDEM Assistant Commissioner Bruno Pigott, was presented to Galligan this morning at City Hall by Pigott and IDEM CSO Project Manager Dave Tennis.
The Sanitary Sewer Board now has until mid-2025 to complete $143 million in projects – which includes upgrades of the existing wastewater treatment plant, the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant at the River Ridge Commerce Center, numerous system improvements and the partial separation of combined sewers in downtown Jeffersonville – in order to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.
The long-term control plan option will be filed with U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana as an amendment to the consent decree that was ratified by the Sanitary Sewer Board in August 2009 and entered by the court on Nov. 24, 2009.
“It is federally enforceable,” said Pigott, of the long-term control plan.
Pigott added, “Once a plan is incorporated into a consent decree, it’s very difficult to change those terms. What you see in the plan is what has to be implemented.” He described the process of changing an accepted plan as “onerous.”
Mayor Tom Galligan said, “This has been a long time coming. It was tedious, at times, but I think it all worked out for the best.”
“It’s obvious to me that Jeffersonville has competent environmental professionals that know what they’re doing,” said Pigott. “Not all communities get through this process in as timely a manner as Jeffersonville.”
-MORE-
Pigott said Jeffersonville’s 15-year schedule to complete its combined sewer overflow work is comparable to what other communities have been granted. He pointed out that Evansville’s consent decree allows a longer time than Jeffersonville’s but that Evansville’s consent decree includes time to negotiate a long-term control plan with EPA and IDEM, something that wasn’t required in Jeffersonville.
Pigott also said that the Sanitary Sewer Board initially sought 25 years in which to complete its CSO Long-Term Control Plan. “It’s not a timeframe EPA or IDEM are comfortable with,” he said.
About 1,000 acres of downtown Jeffersonville are serviced by combined sewers, which are pipes that carry both sanitary and storm water. The city will separate some of those sewers, then utilize a canal to convey storm water to the Ohio River.
Pigott said one of the keys to the inclusion of the canal to manage some storm water as part of the CSO Long-Term Control plan is that it will help protect against sanitary sewer overflows, such as those that occur when sewers back up into homes’ basements.
“From our perspective, that’s a good way to do it,” said Pigott.
Galligan said the sewer rate increases recommended by the Sanitary Sewer Board and adopted by the City Council in 2009 will likely provide enough revenue that additional rate increases will not have to be adopted until at least 2020. Between now and then, he said, the Sanitary Sewer Board will see additional alternative funding sources to help limit the need for additional rate increases.
Galligan said development within the Canal District itself will likely help limit the need for additional rate increases.
In August 2004, project consultants advised the City Council that that average household sewer bill would need to be at least $62 per month – and possibly more – to reduce CSOs to the point that Jeffersonville’s wastewater system complied with the Clean Water Act. In January, the average residential sewer bill was $44.
SCOOP !!!!!!
Contact: Larry Thomas, Communications Director For Immediate Release
Cell Phone: 812-786-9727 Friday, April 15, 2011
EPA, IDEM accept CSO Long-Term Control Plan with canal option for Jeffersonville
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management have presented Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan with a letter from both agencies confirming the acceptance of the Jeffersonville Sanitary Sewer Board’s Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control plan option that includes the use of a canal to convey storm water to the Ohio River.
The letter, signed by EPA Region 5 Water Division Director Tinka Hyde and IDEM Assistant Commissioner Bruno Pigott, was presented to Galligan this morning at City Hall by Pigott and IDEM CSO Project Manager Dave Tennis.
The Sanitary Sewer Board now has until mid-2025 to complete $143 million in projects – which includes upgrades of the existing wastewater treatment plant, the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant at the River Ridge Commerce Center, numerous system improvements and the partial separation of combined sewers in downtown Jeffersonville – in order to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.
The long-term control plan option will be filed with U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana as an amendment to the consent decree that was ratified by the Sanitary Sewer Board in August 2009 and entered by the court on Nov. 24, 2009.
“It is federally enforceable,” said Pigott, of the long-term control plan.
Pigott added, “Once a plan is incorporated into a consent decree, it’s very difficult to change those terms. What you see in the plan is what has to be implemented.” He described the process of changing an accepted plan as “onerous.”
Mayor Tom Galligan said, “This has been a long time coming. It was tedious, at times, but I think it all worked out for the best.”
“It’s obvious to me that Jeffersonville has competent environmental professionals that know what they’re doing,” said Pigott. “Not all communities get through this process in as timely a manner as Jeffersonville.”
-MORE-
Pigott said Jeffersonville’s 15-year schedule to complete its combined sewer overflow work is comparable to what other communities have been granted. He pointed out that Evansville’s consent decree allows a longer time than Jeffersonville’s but that Evansville’s consent decree includes time to negotiate a long-term control plan with EPA and IDEM, something that wasn’t required in Jeffersonville.
Pigott also said that the Sanitary Sewer Board initially sought 25 years in which to complete its CSO Long-Term Control Plan. “It’s not a timeframe EPA or IDEM are comfortable with,” he said.
About 1,000 acres of downtown Jeffersonville are serviced by combined sewers, which are pipes that carry both sanitary and storm water. The city will separate some of those sewers, then utilize a canal to convey storm water to the Ohio River.
Pigott said one of the keys to the inclusion of the canal to manage some storm water as part of the CSO Long-Term Control plan is that it will help protect against sanitary sewer overflows, such as those that occur when sewers back up into homes’ basements.
“From our perspective, that’s a good way to do it,” said Pigott.
Galligan said the sewer rate increases recommended by the Sanitary Sewer Board and adopted by the City Council in 2009 will likely provide enough revenue that additional rate increases will not have to be adopted until at least 2020. Between now and then, he said, the Sanitary Sewer Board will see additional alternative funding sources to help limit the need for additional rate increases.
Galligan said development within the Canal District itself will likely help limit the need for additional rate increases.
In August 2004, project consultants advised the City Council that that average household sewer bill would need to be at least $62 per month – and possibly more – to reduce CSOs to the point that Jeffersonville’s wastewater system complied with the Clean Water Act. In January, the average residential sewer bill was $44.
Comments
forced upon the residents of the City of Jeffersonville concerning an ordered new sewage plant and stromwater drainage solution, was announced by the EPA and IDEM.
Is this plan a good idea or a WILD boondoggle that could bankrupt the city?
Will it be an economic success or a huge and REALLY expensive failure?
Do you think that the EPA, IDEM, and the Galligan Administration should be allowed to enter into an agreement that many feel is unwise and could become a huge financial disaster?
Why the sudden"Rush to Judgement" by the current administration and the mandating State/Federal bureaucrats with this announcement at this time?
We were told that "the election would be a mandate on the sewer/drainage solutions", but now we are suddenly told that the decision has already been made for us behind closed doors!
A secret deal between the administartion and State and Federal government bureaucrats when other solutuons should have been examined?
Why two weeks BEFORE the election is the "decision made for us", openly defying the voters before they have a chance to voice their opinion a fair and open election.
Synonymous II
We are currently told that they will now take an additional $143,000,000.
If past practice is an indication, the eventual total cost of a huge public works project like this, could well be significantly higher.
Supporters of the project are counting on "significant economic growth with large commercial development" that would assist in paying the bills to support the project.
Many feel that this "economic stimulus" will be woefully inadequate to fund the two projects, leaving the taxpayer holding the bag.
Synonymous II
As a concept, the Jefferonville Canal is a good idea.
It is a solution to flooding problems.
It also potentially allows for much greater economic development.
I initially supported the project. Then we learned of the insanely high cost of the "agreement"
being forced upon Jeffersonville by the Federal government via the EPA.
$143,000,000! I was stunned!
Federal bureaucrats demand we do something, but they then require us to solve the "alleged big problem" without financial support.
It is called an "UNFUNDED MANDATE".
"The Devil, is, as always, in the details."
I fear that we will not draw enought public economic support for the project and it will lag for years.
Sewer bills and real estate taxes and governemnt spending are out of control.
Where will be in five years if we keep spending like we are now? Scary.
The price tag is far too high as of now and the bill to already overburdened taxpayer will significantly increase.
Synonymous II
of income for funding the sewer plant and canal projects
come from tap in fees, sewer usage fees, and property taxes.
We have begun VERY high phased in sewer tap in fees. They can always also go even higher.
We are getting far fewer of these because of the severe economic downturn.
These high commercial tap in fees and new home tap in fees make potential developers re-think construction projects upon which this "plan" is counting.
They are regressive "impact fees" and cost the consumer.
Additionaly, we have been subjected to tripled (at last count and probably going higher) sewer usage fees for the projects.
We are "HOPING" for this big "ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN"
from the canal and growth generated by new home construction and new commercial and industrial businesses.
SYNONYMOUS II
Their attorney, Greg Fifer, jas warned us they will have to "close the doors by August 1 of this year".
Clark County government has had it's bond credit rating REDUCED
by the state due to poor fiscal management.
Indiana will see a statewide reassessment of real estate next year in 2012.
Jeffersonville city government is taking on the biggest government spending projects in Jeffersonville's history.
We are facing YET ANOTHE TAX INCREASE because of the pending re-assessment for 2012.
To say that we are in uncharted waters is an understatement.
Where will this government mismanagement and excess spending stop?
Question:
"In order to feed the beast, DO YOU THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S NEXT ASSESSSMENT
OF YOUR PROPERTY IN 2012
WILL GO DOWN,
STAY THE SAME,
OR GO UP
TO HELP THEM KEEP SPENDING?
.
Where will this government mismanagement and excess spending stop?
Again,
"DO YOU THINK THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S NEXT ASSESSSMENT OF YOUR PROPERTY IN 2012 WILL GO DOWN, STAY THE SAME, OR GO UP TO HELP THEM KEEP SPENDING?"
SYNONYMOUS II
Clark County government is essentially bankrupt.
County Atorney , Greg Fifer, has warned us they
"will have to
close the doors by August 1 of this year".
Clark County government has had it's bond credit rating REDUCED
by the state due to poor fiscal management.
(Sorry, some mistakes on the last psot corrected here.)
Synonymous II