INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, has requested the interim study committee on environmental affairs look at the proposed Mounds Lake reservoir this summer.
Errington, whose district encompasses most of Muncie, serves on the environmental study committee. She sent her request to the committee chair Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and the vice chair, Rep. Dave Wolkins, R-Warsaw last week, asking for a hearing.
“There are so many issues created by the Mounds Reservoir project that need to be addressed,” Errington said. “This legislative study committee is an appropriate place to examine those issues and get some answers.”
Errington said she attended all of the Mounds Lake debates in Delaware County and is not in favor of the reservoir.
"I've come to the conclusion that it is not a benefit to the area," Errington said. "There may be other alternatives that may be of equal benefit."
The reservoir proposal has been met with staunch opposition from Delaware County. The Muncie City Council, Delaware County Council and Delaware County commissioners all voted to oppose the project.
The town councils of Yorktown and Daleville, both towns in Delaware County that will be affected, have not decided whether to join the Mounds Lake Commission.
Besides the impact on Madison and Delaware counties, Errington said the lake could have a much bigger impact downstream from the lake. That's one of the reasons she is proposing the entire state legislature be involved in the discussion.
Charbonneau said he thinks the Mounds Lake reservoir warrants discussion but can't say for sure whether the committee will be able to discuss it this year. He said committee chairs are a little more limited now than they used to be when it comes to adding topics to committee agendas.
Charbonneau said the agendas are set months before the committees meet.
"It (Mounds Lake) is a significant issue in my mind," he said. "I believe it would be beneficial to hear about."
Charbonneau said he is planning on talking to the legislative council to see if he can add a Mounds Lake discussion onto the agenda. He said the important thing is not adding another day when committee members would have to travel to Indianapolis.
The interim environmental study committee is already slated to study the water distribution systems relevant to the White, Wabash and Ohio river basins, according to Jeff Fites, media spokesman for the Indiana House Democrats. Errington said she believes the Mounds Lake potential impact on the White River is a good reason to discuss during one of the three committee meetings this summer.
No meeting dates have been set for the committee, but Charbonneau said he doesn't believe they will be before the end of August.
Reports and recommendations from all the summer study committees have to be submitted by Nov. 1.