ANDERSON — It appears likely that the proposed Mounds Lake Commission to take the reservoir project to the next phase will become a reality.
Several members of the Chesterfield, Daleville and Yorktown town councils, when interviewed recently by The Herald Bulletin, indicated they want a seat at the table as discussions continue about the potential construction of the $440 million, 2,100-acre reservoir.
The Mounds Lake Commission, if formed, will consist of two elected officials apiece from Anderson, Chesterfield, Daleville and Yorktown. The Anderson City Council voted June 11 to join the commission.
The commission will be tasked with finding the $28 million needed for the Phase 3 study and then recommending whether the project should continue to the permitting and construction phase.
None of the three town councils has scheduled a vote on joining the Mounds Lake Commission; all three are planning public forums to hear comments from local residents. Votes in all three towns could take place as early as August.
President Rich Lee said the Yorktown council would vote to have seats on the commission. He noted that, if the council doesn’t like the future direction of the project, it’s understood that any government entity can vote to end its involvement, which could effectively end the project.
“We do have a lot of questions that need to be answered,” he said. “We’re inviting the Mounds Lake proponents and the opponent Heart of the River to make presentations and allow local residents to ask questions and get informed."
Lee believes the reservoir project has economic development potential, but he's concerned about its financial and ecological aspects. He said the Delaware County Council and Board of County Commissioners acted too quickly in voting not to support the Mounds Lake Commission and reservoir project.
“The Delaware County officials will not have a bearing on our decision,” Lee said. “We won’t jump to conclusions and have talked to property owners in the impacted area.”
Lee said the council wouldn't place a financial burden on Yorktown property owners and wouldn't provide funding for the Phase 3 study.
In June, Anderson City Council modified an ordinance to join the Mounds Lake Commission. The modification stipulates that, for the project to move forward with permitting and construction, it would require approval from each of the four councils. Local government entities would retain control of zoning and land use around the reservoir.
Lee noted that the permitting phase will include checks and balances on the feasibility of the project as state and federal agencies consider permits.
Tom Roberts, president of the Daleville Town Council, applauded the ordinance modifications, which provide safeguards for the local communities.
“We’re gathering information,” he said. “It seems that new information is coming out every week.”
Bill Walters, vice president of the Daleville Town Council, said the council is listening to the residents of the community. He noted that many people attending recent Daleville council meetings are not residents of the town but outsiders with vested interests in either opposing or supporting the reservoir.
“The board is open,” Walters said of any decision. “Early on, there was overwhelming support. But we want to hear from our constituents as much as possible.
“We need to have a seat at the table,” he added. “We don’t want to be left out.”
Walters noted that the 2012 drought in central Indiana brought a potential regional water shortage to the surface, making it an important issue to address for the coming decades.
Mounds Lake could supply 60 million gallons of water a day for central Indiana, according to proponents of the project.
Jerry Fields, a member of the Chesterfield Town Council, said the community doesn’t want someone else to make decisions that will impact the town.
Fields said the project should go to a third phase to determine the validity of concerns about its viability and impact.
“If it doesn’t get the needed permits, it will never be constructed,” he said.