Mount Vernon News

CENTERBURG — A major topic of discussion on Monday evening at the Centerburg Village Council meeting was the proposed decentralized sewer project and how it might affect the hamlet of Rich Hill and the village of Centerburg.

Chuck Coghlin of Bird and Bull Engineering said he received a letter from county commissioner Bob Wise inquiring about the possibility of pumping the wastewater from the residences at Rich Hill to Centerburg’s sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.

One of the requests in the letter was a line being extended to the village limits, a distance of about 1,700 feet; the estimated cost to the village would be around $150,000. The increased flow would also mean that the village’s wastewater treatment plant would need upgrading in order to deal with the increased flow.

“We have limited capacity at the existing wastewater plant, and this [increased flow] would put us over the top,” said Coghlin.

Coghlin said he was neither for nor against the proposed plan, but said there was a need for more conversations with the commissioners.

There were mixed opinions from council.

“I’m against going outside the village and offering anyone sanitary sewer at this point,” said Councilman Jerry Hess. “I’m against it, period.”

Councilman Jack Tucker said he would be in favor of the project because it would help maintain a clean and safe water supply for the village. He noted that if faulty septic systems begin to leak, they could possibly contaminate the village’s water supply.

“I think to protect the citizens of Centerburg we need to process that sewage rather than have it soak into the ground,” said Tucker.

Centerburg Mayor George Shaw said he didn’t want to shut the door on the project, but wanted the commissioners to realize the financial situation the village was facing. Councilwoman Diana Stockmaster asked clerk-treasurer Teri James if she would be able to write up a spreadsheet that would clearly indicate the village’s tight budget; this spreadsheet could be shared with the commissioners.

Coghlin said the council had to work cautiously on the issue.

“It would be irresponsible to try to push a project ... that would break the back of the community,” he said.

“I’d like to see council give me and Phil [Lohmeyer, village administrator] the approval to approach the commissioners and discuss this,” said Shaw.

Stockmaster said she was opposed to the project, like Hess, but didn’t want to slam the door shut.