Published: July 13, 2008 02:03 am            

Georgetown, county still at odds over plant

Georgetown Town Council President Bill Stewart doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. He can’t figure out why Floyd County continues to put roadblocks in place and fight Georgetown over a proposed sewer plant location for the town.

“At the end of the day, what does it accomplish?” Stewart said. “It’s the most aggravating thing. That property will be annexed and we will build on it. All the county is doing is delaying and costing us money.”

Commissioner Steve Bush, however, said two wrongs do not make a right. He said 11 people — the three commissioners, seven plan commission members and county planner unanimously agreed that the O’Brien property is not the best location for a sewer-treatment plant and should not be rezoned. The 23-acre site along Ind. 64 in Georgetown Township is zoned rural residential.

Georgetown asked the county last year to rezone the O’Brien property in order for the town to build a sewer plant. The commissioners unanimously declined that request in November. If Georgetown is

successful with annexation, the argument would be over. If not, however, decisions will have to be made.

County Planner Don Lopp said the property is part of the Edwardsville Gateway District and is near commercial areas, which makes it a bad location. The county also believes it would be better to build a plant west of the town.

“We have tried to help them. We didn’t rezone it because it did not meet our comprehensive plan,” Bush said. “I have to look out for all the residents of Floyd County.

“Just because they want to build it there, doesn’t mean we should change our zoning for them. They purchased that property and they want to build their plant there regardless. I think they should take a step back and look at it.”

Stewart said the town doesn’t have time. New Albany’s Sewage Treatment Plant currently treats Georgetown’s sewage for $2.88 per 1,000 gallons. That usually runs between $15,000 to $20,000 a month.

Due to an agreement signed by the previous town council, Georgetown needs to begin construction by February on a new plant, or rates could rise to $10 per 1,000 gallons. The town also would face a fine.

Stewart admits it will be impossible for a plant to be operating by then.

“Our residents could face a huge rate increase,” he said. “This is so aggravating. It’s like hitting your head against the wall. I don’t blame them (commissioners) for where we’re at, but they can help solve it.”

Georgetown recently won an Indiana Court of Appeals ruling to allow the O’Brien property to be annexed. But that will take time.

Recently, Georgetown filed a complaint for injunctive and declaratory relief in Floyd County Circuit Court, hoping Judge Terrence Cody will allow the town to build the sewer treatment plant on the O’Brien property sooner rather than later. That hearing is scheduled for July 28.

Both sides continue to try and reach a settlement before the court hearing.

Floyd County attorney Rick Fox said the county is not against Georgetown building its own sewer plant. He said the county believes there are better sites.

“They are stuck on the O’Brien property,” Fox said. “We are looking at potential alternatives, but we are not there yet.”

Fox said the county doesn’t believe the O’Brien property is best suited for a sewer plant because sewage would have to run uphill, be treated and run back through town. He said if it is built west of the town, sewage would all go downhill and be near a creek.

Stewart disagrees.

“Our sewer system is designed to go uphill, and the O’Brien property is close to our lift station,” he said. “It’s the most logical site. The county wants us to consider other sites on the other side of town. To do that we would have to reverse our system. It would be very costly.”

Bush said Fox and Lopp have been working with Georgetown officials. He said Fox recently met with the New Albany Sewer Board to ask the board to give the town an extension.

“We had our county planner and attorney work with them,” Bush said. “We didn’t have to have Rick Fox go with them to the sewer board or have Don Lopp try to help guide them through this. We are trying to do the best we can to help them.”

One of the sites Georgetown officials have said to be a favorite of Floyd County is near Indian Creek. Bush said that is one of many sites.

“That’s one option,” Bush said. “We haven’t decided on one spot.”

Plan Commission President Paul Riggs said at the time his board unanimously denied the request to rezone the property that, “it was not consistent with the surrounding land uses. They are trying to put the right thing in the wrong place.”

Fox said he understands why Georgetown officials are pushing to build the plant on the O’Brien property since they have so much invested in the land.

However, he said the town made several mistakes along the way.

“Georgetown went out on their own; they didn’t call Don Lopp and ask him to look at the property or ask him where would be the best location for a sewer plant,” Fox said. “Floyd County does have planning and zoning laws.”

Lopp said there was a comprehensive study done in 1991 that discussed many options for a sanitary sewer system in Georgetown, but it didn’t get specific with sites.

“There was a lack of communication through the entire process,” Lopp said. “Their board didn’t sit down with us so we could see if there was a viable option to benefit everyone. They kind of set their own course.”

Stewart said it’s time to move forward with the O’Brien property.

“There are no more sites,” he said. “It would cost us a million dollars to turn our system around. If Floyd County wants to pay to relocate the plant, that’s fine. I have no objections. But they can’t expect Georgetown citizens to pay for that.”

        

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