TAYLORSVILLE – Bartholomew County officials are moving forward with plans to overhaul the aging infrastructure at Heflen Park and Campgrounds, following warnings from the state that the current system is no longer sufficient.
During their meeting yesterday, County Commissioners opened six bids for a project that will replace the park’s 1950s-era septic system with a modern sanitary force main and lift station.
The project received interest from regional contractors. Bidders were asked to provide a base price along with two alternate additions. The proposals included:
- Lowest Base Bid: $278,000 from Reed & Sons Construction of Bloomington.
- Highest Comprehensive Bid: Over $538,000 (including both alternates) from Sub-Surface of Indiana of Morgantown.
Commissioners took all six bids under advisement and are expected to award a contract during their meeting next week.
The decision to transition Heflen Park and Campgrounds from a traditional septic system to a municipal sewer connection marks one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the park’s recent history.
Heflen Park’s location directly along the Driftwood River has made the modernization of its waste management a priority for environmental reasons.
Older septic systems, particularly those installed in the 1970s, carry a higher risk of failure or leaching, which could potentially contaminate local waterways.
By connecting to the Driftwood Utilities sewer system, the county is effectively removing the risk of groundwater contamination that comes with large-scale septic fields near riverbanks.
The park has seen a steady increase in usage over the last decade, particularly during the summer months.
The Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) provide guidelines for “daily design flow.” The current septic system was determined to be incapable of handling the peak loads seen during holiday weekends and high-occupancy periods.
The new low-pressure grinder system is designed to handle high-demand periods without the back-ups or odors often associated with failing septic systems, providing a much more reliable experience for visitors.
While Commissioner Carl Lienhoop confirmed the project is being funded via the Parks Department budget, the use of a “force main” was selected specifically for its cost-effectiveness in areas with difficult terrain or high water tables.
Unlike traditional gravity-fed sewers that require deep, expensive trenching, a low-pressure system uses small pumps to move waste through thinner pipes. This minimizes the physical footprint and disruption to the park’s natural landscape during construction.
Following the review of the six bids by the county legal team and engineers, the contract is expected to be awarded at the May 18 or May 25 commissioners’ meeting. Construction is anticipated to begin shortly thereafter to minimize interference with the peak summer camping season.
Heflen Park remains a cornerstone of Taylorsville’s outdoor recreation, and this $278,000+ investment is seen as a vital step in ensuring the facility remains open and compliant for the next generation of campers.
