Federal funding expected for sewer

Trumbull County will most likely apply for federal funds for Shannon Road sanitary sewers in fiscal 2002.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- The township's Shannon Road area qualifies for federal funding for sewer installation because the majority of households there are low-to-moderate income, a township trustee said.
Both Liberty and Girard officials have been seeking sewer improvements in the Shannon area of the township because sewage seeping from malfunctioning home septic systems has polluted a pond in Tod Park in the city. Also, the sewage runs through creeks in some of Girard's neighborhood.
Jack Simon, chairman of the township trustees, said a survey conducted by the township shows that the area that he described as a "major problem" qualifies for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds.
"The sewers are going to go in one way or another," Simon said.
Last month, county commissioners gave their approval to begin design work to install sanitary sewers to serve more than 400 households in the area.
Qualification: Alan Knapp, grants coordinator for the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said the number of low- and moderate-income households is just more than 51 percent, or the number to qualify for HUD's competitive Community Development Block Grant program.
Knapp explained that because of other projects in the county that have been lined up for CDBG funds, the earliest the county can apply for Shannon would be in fiscal year 2002.
He cautioned that Shannon will be in stiff competition for such funding.
Knapp cautioned that three other major sanitary sewer and water line improvement projects in the county are in areas that have more than 60 percent low-to-moderate-income households.
The Hilltop Section of Weathersfield Township has 66 percent such households and sewers are being installed there. The others with more than 60 percent are the Meadowbrook Drive area of Warren Township, where waterlines will be extended, and West Hill area of Brookfield Township, where sanitary sewers are being proposed.
Knapp said Shannon may not hold down the fourth position in the race for CDBG funding because a waterline project along Austintown-Warren Road in Weathersfield may take that spot. Knapp explained that Shannon will be added to the list as more information is gathered about the area and what is needed. He explained that even the area's qualifying for federal funds is new information. Also, the county will be exploring the issue of state Issue 2 funds for Shannon.
Girard Mayor James Melfi, who has been pushing county commissioners to get the sewage pollution abated, expressed satisfaction that the project qualifies for federal funds.