The city Utilities Commission took no action Tuesday regarding two proposed sewer extension projects, including one in Perry Township involving the trustees and the Columbiana County Engineer's Office.
Commission Chairman Geoff Goll said there's nothing to act on until the commission receives a formal request from the trustees or the county commissioners regarding the Painter Road/Brooklyn Avenue and Depot Road sewer project.
Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart indicated the county wanted to know if the city Utilities Commission would finance the project, less the $84,000 the Perry Township Trustees were contributing.
"We're being asked to subsidize a project we didn't initiate and weren't asked to do," Goll said, adding they're looking at three major expansion projects and a nearly $3 million project starting this August.
He said he would be willing to look at it if the commission wasn't "under the gun" of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to redo the sewer treatment plant.
Weingart said the county doesn't want to take on the expense.
The sewer extension project was being handled by the Columbiana County Engineer's Office after some residents petitioned the trustees for sewer service, with the trustees contributing $84,000 to the project, with plans to cover the remaining cost with a construction loan to be repaid by affected property owners.
The project has remained stalled, though, since last year when county commissioners rejected all the bids received because the amounts were more than 10 percent over the estimated cost of $199,000. The lowest bid was $41,000 higher than the estimate. Perry Township Trustees recently hosted a meeting with property owners in an effort to find out if they want the project to continue, since they would have to pay more than originally thought.
In a related matter, city resident Charles Gibbs attended the Utilities Commission meeting and requested a sewer extension to his property on Painter Road, which is in the city limits. He gave a rough estimate for the extension cost at $29,000.
Goll asked if they could have more time to think about the request, noting he would like to know what's happening with the township project. He said if they elect not to go forward, the project dies, but Gibbs said he would still like them to consider extending the line to his property.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
