Officials, restaurateur discuss sewer line

Authority member Don Hanni wanted to have the legal discussion in open session.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- The Western Reserve Port Authority will start negotiations with the owner of the closed Airport Inn Restaurant, so the restaurant can tie in to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport's sanitary sewer system.
Gary Newbrough, Trumbull County sanitary engineer, told port authority members Wednesday he thinks the restaurant could be added to the sewer system without significantly reducing the capacity of the airport's sewer line.
Newbrough said he thinks it's a shame that the restaurant, which is adjacent to the airport, had to close early last month over problems with its septic system. Newbrough said retaining a such as the restaurant is just as important as steps the port authority has taken to bring new business to the area.
"It's one of the few viable businesses in the area surrounding the airport," Newbrough said. He said the restaurant will use 5 percent to 10 percent of the sewer line's capacity and that the airport uses 20 percent to 25 percent of the capacity.
Paying for pipe
Newbrough said the restaurant would have to pay to have about 2,000 feet of sewer pipe installed to hook up with the line. Additionally, Newbrough recommended installing a flow meter that would help the airport determine an amount of surcharge that the restaurant would pay to the airport, in addition to the sewer fees they would owe the county.
Newbrough said constructing the line could take as little as 30 days.
Steve Bowser, airport director of aviation, said the Federal Aviation Administration had reservations about the idea, primarily on whether it would present problems when other residences and business nearby asked if they could also be added to the sewer line.
Officials agreed that such requests would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Bowser said the 8-inch sewer line in place for about the past five years circles most of the airport, takes in the Air Force Reserve Station and some businesses on Ridge Road.
Trumbull County Health Department officials closed the restaurant Feb. 28 because its septic system was not working adequately and was causing contamination to the environment outside of the restaurant.
Also on agenda
In other action, the port authority:
Hired the law firm of Manchester, Bennett, Powers and Ullman of Youngstown to represent the port authority in bankruptcy proceedings filed by airport fuel handler and service provider ReadyAir in Pittsburgh. The rate is $185 per hour.
Before going into executive session to talk about legal matters, Hanni made a motion that the discussion be held in the open. "We need to let it all hang out. The only thing the public knows is the port authority exists and it is bleeding profusely," he said. His motion died for lack of a second.
Gave Bowser authority to negotiate a contract with the Western Reserve Flight Center to provide piloting lessons at the airport. Port Authority members Mike Harshman and Joe Maxin abstained from voting because of their former financial interest in the school.
runyan@vindy.com