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John Hardwick, Valparaiso Water, 219-462-6174, ext 302
Phil Smith, Smith Group Consulting, LLC, 317-788-8534
Stacy Jones, IDEM, 317-308-3292
Beth Millett, Borshoff Johnson Matthews, 317-631-6400
Kathy Humphrey, Veolia Water of Indianapolis, 317-263-6540
Doug Perry, City of Goshen, 574-534-5701
Bob Veneck, OUCC, 317-233-3231
Jerry Webb, IURC, 317-232-2765
John Stancati, South Bend Water Works, 574-235-5646
Vince Griffin, State Chamber, 317-264-6881
Jim Williams, Peerless-Midwest, Inc,. 574-254-9050
Nick Stanley, Water Solutions Unlimited, 317-736-6868
Michael Simpson, ME Simpson Co Inc, 800-255-1521
Bill Etzler, Aqua Indiana, 260-489-1502
Joe Broyles, retired, 317-7090-0574
Dan E Hood, ME Simpson Co Inc.,, 800-255-1521
Scott Bell, OUCC, 317-233-1084
Curt Gassert, IURC, 317-232-2749 Chairman Hardwick opened the meeting with introductions. Minutes from the last meeting were approved. Scott Bell, OUCC Vince Griffin, Indiana Chamber of Commerce - Session snapshot: 1400 bills introduced, about 400 exchanged houses before the deadline; 259 were in conference committee by the deadline
- HB 1738 was heard yesterday in conference committee and completely redesigned – many amendments were added from other bills that died, including
- If you’re going to take water from one area to another, you have to have public meetings in both areas with adequate public notice of meetings
- Purpose of 1738 is to push the state to look at future issues for Indiana’s water resources
- 1738 includes Chandler-Newburgh amendment
- 1738 also received a bill from Pierce regarding archaeology, detailing what you have to do if you discover something or are embarking on a project with the potential to discover something. This will likely involve permits.
- Needs to be amended in committee to include the language about intentionally poisoning water supply with intent to cause serious bodily injury
- SB386, the environmental crimes bill related to poisoning of the water supply; is now in conference committee and we expect that the wetlands and poison changes will be accepted.
- Other bills of interest
Other WUC business/updates - Stacy Jones, IDEM presentation on communication requirements
- Mike Simpson, reported that the meter testing rule update committee had a conference call and is currently drafting a rule to circulate and discuss. The committee will likely work through the summer and present a formal document ready for AWWA support in September. Jerry Webb will then take it to the IURC for review.
- John Hardwick reported on the DC Fly-In organized by National. He and Art Umble were able to meet with all 11 elected officials – the first time we have had complete coverage. Thanks to those who helped coordinate meetings.
- Bill Etzler reported that the Indiana Water Shortage Plan committee continues to meet and review experts comments.
- Their report is due to the legislature by July 1; one thing that will come from that is model ordinance for communities to use to implement in case there is the threat of a drought or a drought period.
- Conservation will be addressed in the model drought ordinance. There will be some very specific things to consider from an implementation standpoint.
- The other thing that is of concern is keeping the task force from developing into something bigger and broader until after the drought management issue is addressed.
- They learned that Indiana weather systems come from the west but our drought indicators come from southeast. Drought indicators are already providing an indication that we may be looking at some kind of drought this year.
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