CROMWELL — Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District’s Cromwell office was unusually packed for Monday night’s monthly meeting. As the district closes in on another large project shortly after wrapping one up, public opinion as well as comment has continued to increase.

Luckily for the TCRSD board, they were able to provide answers.

On Monday night, May 21, the board and district employees heard from three members of the public: Ann Xanders, Steve Kelly and Sherman Goldenberg. Xanders, a returning visitor, was simply looking to hear updates on the Syracuse area project — adding new sewer systems to all of Eastshore and Northshore drives. Jones & Henry representative Brian Houghton was able to summarize the project for Xanders and the board, appeasing her overarching question of “when” with the first verbal estimate of winter 2020.

Houghton expressed his hope in being able to start connections to the new sewers by that date and mentioned the team has already started the process for quoting large mechanical portions of the projects to work into bids.

Kelly owns several properties in the Enchanted Hills area and expressed concern with the higher than usual water levels. District Superintendent Timothy Woodward explained although the area had seen increased water, all the systems were able to handle it and are doing well. Woodward took the opportunity to update the board on a few of the projects he and his team are tackling or checking off as done, including:

• Sending a notice of the one of three yearly water flushes in the district

• Servicing generators and sludge pumps in anticipation of Memorial Day holiday flow

• Videotaping of Eli Lily sewer lines to locate taps (tap locations were unknown and would have been at district’s cost if one was hit during construction. Providing this info means the responsibility now falls on the contractors to avoid those)

Goldenberg is another familiar face to the board members, who nodded their agreement when he noted his request has been three years in the making. Goldenberg attended the meeting for himself as well as two of his neighbors, who have all requested some kind of aesthetically pleasing fence surrounding their neighborhood lift station (Country Club Acres). Woodward and the board had previously agreed, and agreed again, the fence is very possible but will need to be at the cost of the requesting parties, as well as maintained by those same individuals.

Practically, Woodward said the district must be able to access the corresponding sewer lines and valves, as well as have visible access to the warning lights from the road. With this info, the district assigned homework to Woodward to mark sewer lines, Goldenberg to rally his fellow property owners, and attorney for the district, Andrew Grossnickle, to reach out to Kosciusko County planning to find regulations/easements.

Grossnickle also provided updates to the board on the pending facility encroachment agreement with CSX Transportation Inc. that would allow the incoming sewer project to pass under railways. He provided a first reading of the agreement and the district passed the resolution.

The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend these monthly meetings located at the Cromwell office. The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 18.