Published: November 09, 2009 10:17 pm      

BZA delays vote on Georgetown sewer plant

Georgetown’s plans to build a wastewater treatment plant on 75.4 acres of property west of the town’s boundary is still in limbo.

The Floyd County Board of Zoning Appeals was suppose to write the final chapter to the sewer plant saga Monday night by approving or rejecting the town’s request for a variance on the property, which is currently zoned rural residential.

However, since some residents in the area were given “improper notification” according to BZA President Don Loughmiller, the board did not hear the request Monday. The BZA will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 to hear both sides before making a decision.

The third floor assembly room of the City-County Building was packed with concerned residents Monday who oppose the construction of the plant on the 75.4 acres. Many of those residents participated in an impromptu question and answer session with Georgetown attorney David Andrews following the BZA decision.

By delaying the special meeting until Nov. 30, Loughmiller and Andrews both said all parties will be properly notified.

The next BZA meeting is Dec. 14, and Andrews said that was too late for the town to receive its permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management which could jeopardize the $3.5 million grant the town will receive through federal stimulus funds to build a wastewater treatment facility.

Andrews said all residents in the area were contacted by certified mail under his interpretation of the requirement. However, the plan commission received notification late last week from a concerned resident about not being notified.

“It’s unfortunate. It’s no one’s fault, but it happened,” said BZA attorney James Hancock. “I think we need to move forward and get this back on track.”

Loughmiller said in order to do that, all parties will have to be notified, which he said should not be a problem since the special meeting is in three weeks.

The state will distribute $125 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for wastewater and drinking water projects in Indiana. The money is being managed by the Indiana Finance Authority.

Many residents, however, say the plan is far from a done deal. Mary Ann Lee, whose property is just 20 feet from the proposed discharge creek, is concerned about environmental issues since her house has been flooded twice from high waters.

Andrews told her IDEM will look as all aspects of the plan, including the discharge area, before granting a permit.