Plans set for sewer plant
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
An engineer laid out plans for a $4.2 million upgrade to the West Jefferson wastewater treatment plant on Tuesday, bringing the 55-year-old facility into compliance with current environmental standards.
Greg Otey, of URS Corporation-Ohio, told village council members the plant needs a new anaerobic tank system and headworks building in order to reduce phosphorus effluent, remove grit and meet other requirements of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).
The plant is currently using a chemical or temporary fix to meet those requirements, Otey said.
A combination of grants and low-interest loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) will pay the bill — estimated to be $4,263,090.
On Tuesday, council authorized a $426,960 contract with URS Corporation to perform preliminary engineering on the project. That cost will eventually be rolled into the total construction bill.
Under a funding strategy proposed by Otey, the village will receive $475,000 in grants from public works and borrow another $600,000 interest free from the agency for 20 years.
A 30-year loan from OWDA will cover the $3,263,090 balance. Interest on that loan will be 1 percent less than the current prime rate, Otey said.
He foresaw no problems with repayment since two existing loans, with a combined annual payment of $426,000, will drop off village books in the next two years.
Otey said the village is likely ineligible for grants and loans from the Ohio Department of Development, the OEPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture since current water and sewer rates are too low, based on median annual household income.
Qualification would require the village to double current water and sewer rates, council member Ron Garver noted.
Otey expects the design and permitting process will take about 10 months. Construction will likely start in July 2013 with a completion date of January 2015.
Also on Tuesday, council agreed to hire Jane L. Jacob as part-time income tax director for the village and pay the woman $20.41 hourly. But the vote did not come without controversy and confusion as some members appeared to balk at Jacob’s pay and others at the “emergency” nature of the ordinance establishing her position.
Motions were made and rescinded. Garver suggested flip-flopping the ordinance that established the job and the resolution to hire Jacob. Member Sheila Nelson said that was inappropriate since council could not fill a position before it was established.
“We can sit here all night,” mused member Cory Coburn.
Quarreling continued for about 10 minutes before the group agreed to hire Jacob at a 10-year pay rate. She already holds the position.
In other meeting business, council members:
• Requested a hearing by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control on the transfer of a liquor license from Frontrow Sports Bar on West Main Street to Elevated Solutions LLC.
• Tabled an ordinance amending the current village fee schedule.
• Tabled a resolution to spend $5,590 on a new heating and air-conditioning unit for the police evidence room.
