By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials are reviewing a proposed ordinance that details the requirements for private and commercial septic systems in the county.

Chris Boling, the environmentalist for the Washington County Health Department, explained the ordinance during the Wednesday, Nov. 6, meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

The county had a septic system ordinance previously, but a state law that became effective as of July 2023 voided all local ordinances passed before that date that pertain to septic systems. That law also formed a nine-member state level technical review panel.

Boling said the new state law was prompted by a couple counties that passed “draconian” requirements for septic systems. Now the state has taken control of such ordinances and removed some requirements, such as a minimum acreage requirement for septic systems.

Boling told commissioners that the proposed ordinance has been reviewed at the state-level and has been approved by the county’s health board. He said it will restore some of the local enforcement powers that were lost when the county’s original septic system ordinance was voided.

“It’s a little less involved and a little less effective than what [the ordinance] we had before,” Boling said.

If passed, the local ordinance will require installers to register with the health department. The registration will be reviewed annually. Unless the installer is registered to install septic systems in another county, the installer will have to pass a certification examination.

Soil testing will still be required prior to the installation of a new septic system or before any changes are made to an existing system.

The ordinance does allow sewage holding tanks; however, Boling cautioned that the legal requirements for such systems can make them more costly than a septic system. State law lists several requirements for holding tanks including a contract with a septic system pumper to routinely empty the holding tank as well as alarms that will indicate when the tank is more than 75 percent full. Applications for these systems must be submitted to the county health department as well as construction plans.

Any violations of the proposed ordinance or state law concerning septic systems could result in a notice of violation being sent to the property owner, who will have a set amount of time to remediate the violation. The local health department could also issue a stop work order.

If the violation isn’t remedied within the allotted time frame, violators could face a fine of $2,500 each day the violation occurs.

The ordinance details the appeals process the property owner can follow to dispute any permit denials, revocations, stop work orders, and penalties.

The proposed ordinance is currently being reviewed by the Commissioners’ attorney.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

An election night watch party was held in Seymour at the Jackson Live and Event Center for United States Congresswoman Erin Houchin. It started at 6:30 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m.

The night started off with appetizers and a dinner.

Graham Houchin was the early entertainment, singing and playing the guitar. After his performance, Congresswoman Houchin announced she would be back later and thanked everyone for coming.

A very large television kept indexing the national results, while a small tv kept up with the local results. The incumbent never trailed her opponents, Democrat Timothy Peck and Russel Brookbank from the Libertarian Party.

Just before 8 p.m., Houchin took the stage again and announced that the race had been called in her favor.

Mike Braun was also announced as the winner in his race for Governor of Indiana, defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Donald Rainwater from the Libertarian Party. At that time Houchin had 71% of the votes. Later this was adjusted to 65% of the votes, almost double the votes that her opponent Timothy Peck received.

In her home of Washington County, she received an astonishing 76.3% of the vote. The only county in the Ninth District that Peck won was Monroe County (Bloomington), where he received 60.3 % of the vote. Peck is an emergency physician who lives in New Washington in rural Clark County.

When asked about her aspirations in the future, considering her resounding victory, she replied, “My goal is to serve the people in southeast Indiana.” When asked about where she would be in two years she said probably in the House of Representatives. Her policy stances are similar to those of U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump—strong U.S./Mexico border, strong economy and personal protection, to name a few.

In closing, Houchin mentioned that the hard-working people of Indiana had been forgotten. She also recognized her supporters and family.

Also attending the election watch party was one of the newly-elected Washington County Council Members At-Large, Todd Armstrong. He is the father of Parker Armstrong, who is the press secretary for Houchin.

Staff photos by Jerry Curry

From left:  Mason, Todd and Parker Armstrong. Todd was elected Washington County Council Member At-Large Tuesday evening.

AG Rokita sends civil investigative demands (CIDs) to officials, employers and non-profits in Evansville, Logansport and Seymour 

As residents and elected officeholders continue reporting concerns about the largescale influx of illegal aliens and “legal migrants” into their cities and towns, Attorney General Todd Rokita is launching investigations into this growing issue in Evansville, Logansport and Seymour.  

The entities receiving CIDs are the Cass County Health Department, Logansport Community School Corp., Berry Global Group Inc., Tent Partnership for Refugees, God is Good, and Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. 

“Illegal immigration caused by "border czar" Kamala Harris' perversion and misapplication of federal law has made every state a border state and imposed unsustainable costs on Logansport and other cities across the nation,” Attorney General Rokita said. “It has also created serious sex and labor trafficking risks in all communities. I’m creatively trying to use every tool in the law to stop the Left's intentional destruction of Indiana."   

Attorney General Rokita is investigating coordinated efforts among international and local nonprofit “refugee resettlement” organizations and employers to bring large numbers of migrants to Indiana communities. 

The rapid growth of alien populations in certain communities has caused overcrowding in housing facilities as multiple families and sometimes dozens of individuals reportedly share space in structures intended to be single-family dwellings. It also has raised concerns about potential labor trafficking. 

Attorney General Rokita’s office is conducting these investigations pursuant to its authority under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and indecent nuisance statute. 

“The influx of these illegal aliens, which are coming from over 150 different countries, have strained our schools and the children of taxpayers are suffering as a result. It has caused unneeded stress on law enforcement, local hospitals and healthcare facilities, and our housing and labor markets,” Attorney General Rokita said.  It also raises serious questions about how these individuals' arrival in Indiana is being facilitated. 

 Indiana’s Recycling Market Development Board awarded six organizations with $2 million in grant funding to expand the state’s recycling economy.

The Recycling Market Development Program was established in the early 1990s to better manage solid waste by developing markets for recycled materials. Six organizations received grant funding totaling $2 million to expand recycling in the Hoosier state. The joint effort represents over $4.8 million in expected total investments that will benefit the environment and the economy. These projects will increase the amount of recycling for organic waste, plastic film, and curbside residential recycling including plastic containers and glass. By doing so, an additional 42,000 tons per year of materials will be reused in Indiana’s circular economy. 

Grants are administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

Below is a list of recipients and their award amounts: 

About IDEM: IDEM (idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.