Funding available for sewer line

The status of a proposed waterline in Petersburg is uncertain.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Despite some funding concerns, construction of the Petersburg sanitary sewer line is going forward.
The project will be advertised for bids as soon as all necessary easements are obtained, officials said.
Clerk Patti Gibson reported to residents when Springfield Township trustees met Wednesday that "the funding is there."
Gibson attended a meeting Dec. 6 with Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer Joseph Warino and Trustees Jim Holleran and Robert Orr.
Trustee Reed Metzka said the project lost $150,000 in Mahoning County solid waste funds that had been committed but are not available because the county has lost $600,000 per year in income from the Smith Landfill in Green Township.
However, Gibson said the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make up the $150,000 with loans, grants or a combination of the two. The township has also asked for an extension to spend another $150,000 in county solid waste funds, which were being held for the township and should have been spent by the end of this year. Because the project is late getting started, the money could not be spent as scheduled.
Bids must be accepted
In the meantime, Gibson said the township must wait until the USDA OKs bids to be advertised for the project.
Holleran said the status of another project -- the Petersburg waterline -- is uncertain but he will know more in February. Holleran said he has heard nothing about the waterline because he has been busy with the sewer project.
But he said he will talk to officials from the Ohio Water Service at a conference in February. Holleran said before the water company will take on the project, a predetermined percentage of residents must make a commitment to tap in at a cost of more than $2,000.
Trustees also did the following:
UAccepted the resignation of Mary McAndrews as township secretary and hired Amy Sandrock of Springfield Township to take her place at the same pay rate. The hourly wage was not available.
UApproved paying for health and life insurance benefit packages for newly elected Trustees Robert Orr and Gerald Guterba.
UHeard Metzka, who will leave office after more than 20 years, recount some of his most memorable accomplishments such as his part in getting the waterline from Struthers Road to Calla Road and construction of the New Springfield Fire Station.