State approves sewer extension funds

A sewer line will serve two motels, a former truck stop and two other properties.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The final $150,000 needed for an $850,000 sanitary sewer extension at the Ohio Turnpike interchange near Newton Falls has been approved by the state.
Alan Knapp, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, will announce the approval at today's planning commission meeting. After that, Knapp will seek permission from county commissioners to advertise for bids.
A committee of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments previously approved the $150,000 from the state's Issue 2 fund, but the county had to wait until the money was available from the state before it could go ahead with the project.
Last spring the county had to reject two rounds of bids for the project because they came in too high. The planning staff prepared a grant application requesting the $150,000 at that point, Knapp said.
The Issue 2 money allows use of $250,000 from the county revolving loan fund and $250,000 from businesses and property owners near the interchange. Tax increment financing will provide an additional $200,000, Knapp said.
The county sewer line now runs along Route 5 and ends at the Holiday Inn Express. The line's extension further east on Route 5 will provide service in Braceville Township to other ventures near the interchange, such as EconoLodge, Budget Lodge, a former truck stop that wants to reopen, and properties owned by Ted Kolacz and Jeff English.
Other actions
In other action, the planning commission will learn that CT Consultants has qualified three houses in the Maplewood Park area for housing rehabilitation.
The county now uses CT Consultants for the federal Housing and Urban Development program because of the layoff of Greg Bugnow from the planning department in the spring, Knapp said.
He added that additional houses will be added to the program later, and the first three will be put out for bid Nov. 21.
The planning commission will also learn that the Western Trumbull Plan Steering Committee has chosen D.B. Hartt Inc., a private company, to conduct a comprehensive plan for communities to include Southington, Braceville, Farmington and Newton townships
Knapp said the planning commission made a proposal to do the plan for $60,000.
runyan@vindy.com