I would like to set the record straight in regards to the Black Swamp Sewer and Water District Advisory Committee, a voluntary, non-paid Putnam County citizens group composed of a business person, a retired banker, a high school teacher, a village water board member, a village council member, and a retiredtownship trustee/county commissioner.
We were tasked by the commissioners to find a structure for a possibly proposed Sewer and Water District.. We met with the commissioners and their legal advisor in monthly publicly announced meetings. The name was settled on, a seven member board of directors’ structure settled on with three members elected by the Township Association and three members elected by the Mayor’s Association in consultation with their village councils.
The seventh member would be elected by the six members. If they couldn’t agree after 60 days, the commissioners would appoint the seventh member. All seven members would be appointed and subject to removal by their elected public official bodies. The board of directors would be directed by these elected officials. Any sewer or water project proposed could not be attempted without the approval of the citizens affected. No existing municipality with sewer and/or water would pay to take on a village or area in need of these services. The village or area in need of the service would have to pay the cost of the service. The focus of the sewer and water district would be to access grant money for the villages or areas who desired a system or were under findings and orders from the EPA.
The initial funding was discussed but no formula proposed or agreed to.
One Commissioner was always there, the second was there most of the time, and the third was rarely there or left early.
— Bob Riepenhoff, Ottawa
