Greensburg — Under an agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Decatur County has been working with the unincorporated town of Sardinia to repair or replace inadequate septic systems in order to clean up Poplar Root Creek.

The process has been ongoing, and last summer's wet weather created delays in the installation of systems in the town. This summer, the weather has cooperated and nine systems have been installed in the town, Commissioner John Richards told his fellow commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday. Seven of the installed systems had been hooked up at that time.

"More are getting done every day," he noted.

The commissioners' attorney, Peg Polanski, noted that's she will be sending an update to IDEM and said that Alan Crosby, environmentalist with the Decatur County Department of Health, should sample the creek to see if e coli and other bacterial levels have decreased. The goal of the project, which will require the participation of the approximately 40 residents of the town, is to make sure that the creek is no longer contaminated, she explained.

In Nov. of 2008, the Decatur County Soil and Water Conservation District gave $10,000 of Indiana Clean Water Act funding to the commissioners for use on this project. Richards noted that a decision needs to be made as to what will be done with it.

"We need to get something in place because with systems going in, there are people who need them who cannot afford it," Richards said. "If we can't get something in place to dole it out, then that money just sits there."

Polanski recommended having those interested in the funding seek a loan from a bank before coming to the county .

"If we have a small amount of money that we will provide to people with a financial need for it, they need to demonstrate that they have a financial need," she said.

Commissioner President Jerome Buening asked Polanski if there are costs to the county that should be anticipated, and Polanski said there will be no fines if the stream is cleaned up. In addition, she noted that the Decatur County Soil and Water Conservation District gave the funds for installing septic systems, not paying fees. Richards continued by noting that Clean Water Act funding is specifically for cleaning up Indiana waterways and expressed his opinion that the funds should be used to help people who cannot afford to put in a septic system. Polanski noted that encouraging residents of Sardinia to apply for bank loans could be a first step in the process.

"If you can do it yourself, you need to," she said, "even if it means borrowing money."

Commissioner Rick Nobbe noted that applying for a loan would be a minimum.

"They have to at least go to the bank and make an effort," he said.

Rather than creating an application, Polanski recommended having those interested in applying for funds from the county bring a copy of their application for a bank loan as well as the rejection letter. Buening said that two applications for bank loans should be made before the county reviews applications based on need. Still, he was unsure of the direction the commissioners should take.

"I almost think the fairest thing would be to wait until all of the systems are installed and spread it evenly," he said.

Regardless the course of action they take, the first step for a person in Sardinia seeking funds from the county would be to apply for a bank loan. Polanski said that they would need more information than that to make a decision on distributing funds. The county would need proof of ownership, rejection letters from two banks, copies of the loan applications from the banks and an estimate from the septic installer for the cost of the system. She noted it may be necessary to set a maximum amount per person, be it a dollar amount or percentage of the cost of the system. She suggested making it known that there is some money and that the amount a person could get would depend upon the number of applicants and their level of need, setting a deadline of Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 and working from there.

"I don't think we should commit to that yet," Nobbe said. "We can take applications, but we can't promise anything."

Polanski noted that it may come down to using the funds to pay the contractor, who is doing some work on credit right now in order to take advantage of the weather.

"I don't know how long the contractor can be the only one helping out," Richards said.

While no deadline was set, Polanski reiterated that applying for a bank loan would be the first step.

"We got this money in 2008," Nobbe noted. "I don't think another month or two will make much difference."