Elkhart County Stormwater Board approves $14,800 septic cost-share grant, outlines 2025 SWCD accomplishments and Pay Dirt training

The Elkhart County Department of Stormwater Management Board on Jan. 26 approved a full contingent grant of up to $14,800 to replace a failing septic system for a household of three, heard a year-end recap of 2025 SWCD activities and received details for the Pay Dirt training event planned for Feb. 26 (with an infield session Feb. 25).

Health department staff presented the cost-share application: the household includes one adult and two children, the applicant's 2024 adjusted gross income was reported as $5,881, and the household receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which staff said the program does not include in annual household income calculations. The department reported the house was built in 1966, the existing system is installed in medium and coarse sands that do not adequately treat wastewater, and the lowest repair estimate was $14,800. Staff recommended a full contingent grant not to exceed $14,800; a five-year lien will be placed on the property to secure the grant if the owner sells within that period. The board moved to approve the full grant and carried the motion unanimously.

Jim Hess, representing the Soil and Water Conservation District, summarized 2025 SWCD work: partnerships with the University of Notre Dame for a soil- and water-assessment tool and watershed modeling for the South Side of the Elkhart River; production of a county-specific water-quality manual; outreach and conservation practices that staff said kept about 175,000 tons of sediment out of county ditches; and 12 new SWCD program participants in 2025. Hess said those products and partnerships lay the groundwork for 2026 events and outreach.

Todd Clark of the SWCD outlined the Pay Dirt event logistics: Feb. 26 is the main Pay Dirt event with breakfast and a CSGP training; Feb. 25 will offer infield, hands-on sessions inside the EECC fairgrounds with demonstrations of stabilization methods, cover-crop mixes and agricultural/stormwater practices. Clark said the event is free for attendees and that registration is available at elkcoswcd.org under the Pay Dirt tab; a bus tour to Brinkley RV's stormwater structures will be offered for willing participants.

Board members discussed outreach to property owners about post-construction maintenance plans and suggested providing sample inspection forms and clear web guidance so owners and new buyers understand ongoing maintenance obligations. Jason Kaufman, stormwater coordinator for the City of Goshen, said Goshen's MS4 permit requires post-construction inspections and the city is working to post post-construction plans on its website; he added that plans are recorded and can appear in title searches, which can help new owners identify obligations.

The board approved the Nov. 24 minutes earlier in the meeting and adjourned after the presentations and discussion. The approved septic grant is subject to program terms (contingent grant, five-year lien); implementation will follow standard program procedures and recording.