Ups and downs for TCRSD

By Chelsea losGuest WriterBoard membera of the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District were careful not to mince words during the monthly meeting held Monday evening, July 17.Although the board provided updates on the Syracuse Town billing process, the reversal study and pending litigation, representatives were careful to keep updates brief and to the point.Perhaps the largest looming cloud for the district is the $50,000 study into returning flow to the TCRSD instead of the Syracuse facility. After huge increases in the bills for flow, the district has put a screeching halt to the payment process, relying on a rate study by Jon Julian for the correct billing.For those interested in reaching a conclusion, Monday evening’s meeting did not provide. Project Engineer Brian Houghton was tight-lipped about the progress, noting only that it continues on. The TCRSD was able to meet with Town of Syracuse representatives to discuss the improvements made to the wastewater system and work through the numbers behind the billing increases. TCRSD is requesting detailed information in regards to bids, change orders and project costs for these improvements in order to better understand the 400 percent jump in rates.An incredulous board listened as district superintendent Timothy Woodward presented photos of a floating port-a-potty now taking up residence on the property the district is in litigation against. Referred to as ‘Reed’s dock,” the board has fought an ongoing battle with rental slip-space property owners since October 2008. That dates marks the last payment received from the property owners for a sewer system that has been deemed still standing. Andrew Grossnickle has partnered with the board to find a solution to the refusal to pay and the refusal to remove the sewer-producing facilities with minimal cooperation. Over the course of the years, the board has found jeans used to cap the sewer, port-a-potty facilities on both the property and the neighboring property, and most recently the floating restroom unit. The board has worked with Grossnickle to find a good compromise, but has since decided to move toward the process of bringing a lien against the property and determine the best way to collect nearly a decade of unpaid fees.On a more positive note, Woodward spoke highly of the new wastewater system in the S.W.A.P area, noting the busy 4th of July weekend was once of the smoothest, even with a larger number of people in the district. Woodward thanked Houghton for the great engineering and thanked his crew for their continued support and dedication to the start up of the new system. He estimated about 160 or more properties have been connected.The board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 21, at the Cromwell district office.In other news:Woodward is working on estimates and insurance claims for $6,000 of damage done to the fence surrounding the water plant in the Enchanted Hills area.An old gearbox was replaced on June 30 when it failed. This leaves the district with 2 old gear boxes and 2 new ones.