County backs push to finish Haysville sewer design before relief money expires
Dubois County Commissioners last week agreed to let the county’s contracted engineering firm use the rest of its federal pandemic relief money to finish design work on the Haysville portion of the regional sewer district.
The planning funding is part of the allotment the county received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The county must spend it by the end of the year. If it isn’t, Commissioner Chad Blessinger said, the federal government could potentially take it back.
The county hired engineering firm Clark Dietz in 2020 to assess sewer needs countywide. That study ranked Haysville among the areas in greatest need, citing failing septic systems and high E. coli levels. Design work began in 2022. Of the $8.4 million in ARPA relief money the county received, it set aside $2.4 million for sewer district planning and design. According to commissioners, the design was 90% complete as of August.
The plan is for the firm to finish the design documents and prepare permit applications by Dec. 31. The county would then have a complete package ready to submit later.
Building the system has been another matter. Construction was projected at $18 million in 2024, and officials said in April 2025 the cost could top $20 million. In August, the Dubois County Regional Sewer District board reported a $9.4 million gap after an $8.6 million state loan offer, $1 million of which is forgivable.
“The problem is we don’t have the money, right?” Blessinger said. “It’s a very expensive process. So we have a regional sewer district board who’s working hard to find a solution to that.”
The system would serve a small number of homes. Early financial projections assumed 340 customers in Haysville.
Design progress has already helped. As of August, the district ranked sixth of more than 80 local governments applying for State Revolving Fund money.
Commissioner Nick Hostetter, who sits on the sewer district board, agreed with Blessinger’s proposed plan. Finished documents would let the county take the project to bid, Hostetter said, and could open the door to other grants.
“If I thought this was a wasteful thing … I would say I’d rather the federal government took it back,” Blessinger said, adding the work “is putting the period at the end of the sentence.”
Commissioners gave verbal consent for Clark Dietz to continue the design work, with plans to get as much done before the new year. No new contract is expected.
Blessinger said he would ask the firm for favorable terms on any future work, such as updating bid documents when the time comes.
The sewer district has tentatively planned public outreach sessions for this fall.
