District accepts resident payment and waives late fees to resolve sewer lien

The LaPorte County Regional Sewer & Water District board accepted a $690 payment and voted to waive late fees to resolve a billing dispute raised by resident Denise Blow on June 23, 2026.

Blow, who identified herself as living at 5622 East 800 North on Saugany Lake in Rolling Prairie, told the board she had submitted a written timeline in advance and that a property exemption for a newly built primary dwelling had led her to assume billing applied only to that unit. "I have a check. Give it to you right now for $690," she said, urging the board to release the lien and move forward in good faith.

District staff and board members reviewed the billing history and lien charges. During discussion the board agreed to accept payment covering the base bill from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, and to waive late fees; the board indicated the lien filing fees (recording/filing costs) would be retained to cover actual administrative costs and that staff and the auditor’s office will coordinate how to record a release or satisfaction of the lien. The transcript records the motion as passing by voice vote; specific roll-call tallies were not provided.

Board members noted the underlying issue appeared to be a miscommunication about how the exemption applied when the parcel contains two buildings: one primary residence and one outbuilding currently used for storage. Blow said she and her family had been out of the country and that communication lapses contributed to the situation. She said she and her spouse did not intend to avoid payment and emphasized a desire for an ongoing good relationship with the district.

The board directed staff to work with county auditing procedures to ensure the lien release or compromise is handled in compliance with fiscal rules; staff said they will follow up with the auditor to determine whether a new invoice or a satisfaction/release filing is required.

The matter was recorded as resolved in the meeting minutes after the board’s vote; the district did not provide a numeric vote count in the transcript.