SEWER SEPARATION City seeks to resume project

One piece of legislation deals with a tax abatement for Diane Sauer Chevrolet.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Legislation on council's agenda would enable a project to separate downtown sewers started several years ago to resume.
The contract to separate downtown sewers started with engineering in the 1990s with a $1 million price tag. Tom Angelo, director of the city's water pollution control center, stopped that project in the late 1990s because of budgetary concerns.
At that time, there was about $400,000 left on the contract.
Legislation on tonight's council agenda would authorize the administration to authorize the continuation of that contract, Angelo said. Thomas Fok and Associates of Youngstown and Warren is the engineering firm.
For more than a year, the city has discussed plans to alleviate flooding like what deluged the area in summer 2003. A comprehensive study released earlier this year projected the cost of separating combined sewers at more than $3 million with work to be done over three to four years.
Other studies
An infiltration and inflow study is under way and the city bought flow meters to conduct a study to determine the sources of excess water getting into the system.
Plans are in the works to implement a process by which homeowners who disconnect their footer drains from the sanitary sewer system could receive reimbursement from the city on a sliding fee scale. Another measure is implementation of a downspout inspection study.
Another ordinance on council's agenda calls for a 75 percent, 10-year tax abatement for Diane Sauer Chevrolet Inc./Sauer Realty LTD, which plans a 21,000-square foot addition to its Niles Road business. Other planned changes are renovation of the existing building, lot improvements and buying machinery and equipment beginning in November.
The estimated investment is between $2.5 million and $3.37 million.
The business also plans to hire five full-time employees over three years.
Earlier this year, the business moved from its West Market Street location to Niles Road.
denise_dick@vindy.com