Rep. Errington requests that legislative study panel review Mounds Reservoir proposal

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) has made a formal request to the chair and vice-chair of the Interim Study Committee on Environmental Affairs that the controversial Mounds Reservoir proposal be examined.

“I have contacted the chair of the study committee, State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), and the vice chair, State Rep. Dave Wolkins (R-Warsaw), to ask that Mounds Reservoir issue be included as the committee explores the water distribution systems relevant to the White, Wabash and Ohio river basins,” said Errington, who is also a member of that study committee.

“I already have heard back from Rep. Wolkins,” continued Errington. “Dave expressed a willingness to include the Mounds Reservoir in the hearings. I am hopeful Sen. Charbonneau will agree as well to include this critical issue on the water distribution study agenda.

“In Delaware County, the issue has been a hot one because of the magnitude of potential problems that would be created by the reservoir,” explained Errington. “The White River would be dammed in Anderson, which means the shallow end would be in Delaware County, almost reaching to Yorktown. The Mounds Mall in Anderson, which was built on a landfill, would be flooded because of the reservoir. Likewise 400 homes, several businesses and part of the Mounds State Park would be permanently under water.

“There are so many issues created by the Mounds Reservoir project that need to be addressed,” added Errington. “This legislative study committee is an appropriate place to examine those issues and get some answers.”

The $450 million Mounds Reservoir would flood 2,100 acres and stretch seven miles from Anderson to Yorktown. The proposal has sparked great opposition by citizens throughout Delaware County. The county commissioners and the county council voted unanimously to oppose the project as did the Muncie City Council.

In addition to reviewing the water distribution systems, the Interim Study Committee on Environmental Affairs will also will take a look at landfills and the statutes governing solid waste management districts.

Errington was also appointed to Indiana Study Committee on Education, the Compliance Advisory Panel and the Indiana Recycling Market Development Board.

The Interim Study Committee on Education will examine school testing and reporting requirements along with the resulting impact of that testing on school corporations. In addition, the committee will consider whether the ISTEP program should be replaced with an alternative statewide assessment. Another topic for review will be special education for developmentally delayed children.

During the legislative session, Errington is the ranking Democratic member on the House Environmental Affairs Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Education, Government & Regulatory Reform and Natural Resources committees.

Errington urges her constituents to contact her regarding any legislative issues, but, in particular, issues that will be studied during the interim.

The legislative study committees will submit a final report to the Legislative Council by November 1, which will include findings and recommendations on the topics reviewed. The reports will be shared with the House and Senate as members consider many of those topics included in bills that will come before the General Assembly in 2016.