County looks to add sewer system to Heflen Park campground

Bartholomew County officials are looking at options to improve the sewer system at Heflen Park and Campgrounds in the Taylorsville area at a cost of more than $278,000 dollars.

County Commissioners opened six bids yesterday for the installation of a sanitary force main and lift station at the county park on the Driftwood River. Bidders were required to make a base bid and to bid on two alternate additions. Bids ranged from a low base bid of over $278,000 for Reed & Sons Construction from Bloomington to more than $538,000 for the base bid with two alternates from Sub-Surface of Indiana of Morgantown.

At the commissioners April 20th meeting, parks department officials explained that the county park is currently on a septic system dating back to the 1970s. The state had advised the county that the current system is inadequate for the number of campers who use the park. The county looked at expanding the septic system, but concluded that it was not a long term solution and would not repair errors made in the system when it was first installed. The project would disable the septic and instead install a low-pressure grinder system and force main. The main would then feed into the Driftwood Utilities sewer system.

Commissioner Carl Lienhoop said that the project was being paid for out of the county parks department budget.

Commissioners took the bids under advisement and hope to award a contract at their meeting next week.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Parks Department