BUILDING SEWERS Official: Faster but not in haste

The health commissioner hopes for cooperation with the new sanitary engineer.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's Office will try to build sewers faster and will consider a private water company's proposals to lay pipe in areas the county can't easily reach.
However, county planning commission director Gary Newbrough, who will become sanitary engineer later this month, said he does not want to push sewer projects ahead too quickly, for fear of losing a possible federal grant.
"What if we get $70 million from the federal government to install all new sewers and clean up health problems -- and we have already assessed people and eliminated the need for all those sewers?" Newbrough said.
Newbrough replaces Tom Holloway, who will leave at the end of the week to become chief engineer at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
With the new position, Newbrough will have a crucial role in deciding several issues that could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, dramatically impact development and influence the quality of life in many parts of the county.
Here's the situation
County officials are being pressured by the EPA to fix septic problems by installing sewers in about two dozen neighborhoods, including some in Bazetta and Brookfield, where tests have found human waste in roadside ditches. An EPA lawsuit against the county is pending in Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas.
In court documents, the county blames the county health department for not making sure septic systems in the problem areas were working properly.
Regular monthly meetings between the health department and sanitary engineer to discuss addressing these areas broke down a few weeks ago.
Health department officials pushed the sanitary engineer to move more quickly on sewers for the problem areas, but the sanitary engineer said he was focused on completing one project at a time with grant funding, to reduce cost to residents.
"We want to work collaboratively with the sanitary engineer's department, and it was impossible with the previous administration," said Health Commissioner James Enyeart. "I've found Gary to be open-minded, interested in new technology. He seems to have an interest in making this work."
Newbrough said he would try to work faster to bring sewers to areas spotlighted by the EPA. He said he would also create separate priority lists of projects in low- and moderate-income areas where grants are more available, and those which are not.
"Right now, with the health department going out forcing residents to upgrade their septic systems, some of which cost up to $10,000 per house, and we may start to see petitions for services extended by assessment or private extension agreements," he said.
Under both these methods of building utility lines, the cost of the line is spread among the people it serves.
One concern
Newbrough said he did not want the sanitary engineer's office to immediately force people in wealthier areas to put in sewers because of the possibility the federal money could come through.
Over the past few years, the sanitary engineer's office has also frequently been the target of township trustees who want to see utilities extended to their communities more quickly.
Holloway opposed efforts by Consumers Ohio Water Co. to build and operate waterlines in areas with no county service, because he said it would compromise the integrity of the county system. He also said the company's rates are too high.
"I don't believe he helped us as much as he could," said Braceville Township Trustee Dennis Kuchta, who says portions of his township desperately need water.
He and other officials from northwestern townships will meet with a Consumers representative later this month.
Newbrough said he would consider endorsing Consumers' plans for waterlines in areas that cannot easily be reached from the current county system.
siff@vindy.com