NORTH VERNON, Ind. – Brian Hatfield, with Jennings Northwest Regional Utilities (JNRU), addressed the North Vernon City Council on Monday, about joining forces with the city’s utilities.
According to Hatfield, despite “operating in the black,” the JNRU plant is not as effective as it should be. After speaking with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Terry Goodin, they would like to fund a study to create a master plan that would better direct them on how to solve septic and wastewater concerns in the county and city.
Ultimately, JNRU would like to send their sewage to the city’s utilities, thus creating a larger regional district utility plant that would make them eligible to receive funding to build another city plant among other things.
According to City Attorney Larry Greathouse, who attended the JNRU meeting with Goodin, the USDA will not consider smaller plants for loans. It would also allow both plants to expand their reach, thus expanding housing and commercial possibilities.
North Vernon resident Greg Hicks, who was in attendance at Monday’s meeting, added that something like this has been suggested and attempted twice in the last 20 years, but has fallen through for various reasons. There was an overall consensus that limits in infrastructure limit expansion for the entire community.
The city’s utility board as well as its utility superintendent, Russell Vaughn, all had concerns that the prospect of combining the plants would further exacerbate current financial and manpower problems.
Hatfield said they would not be able to address any of their concerns until a study was done, and added that the Jennings County Commissioners have already pledged $50,000 to help fund the study.
Ultimately, four Council members voted that JNRU should address the city’s TIFF board and ask them to fund 25% up to $25,000 of the city’s portion of the study. Councilman Andrew Klescht abstained as he is an employee at JNRU.