Hubbard, county officials reach deal to install a sewer system

The public will have input on the project.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

HUBBARD — Dozens of residents in one township neighborhood have moved one step closer to replacing failing septic systems with a county-installed sewer system.

Homeowners in the Kurmont Heights area have petitioned the county to install the sewer system. The Ohio Environmental Protection agency has said the sewer system is a necessity.

Now, county and city officials have reached an agreement to install the sewer lines and dispose of the waste generated.

According to John Darko, president of council, the county will install the sewer lines and a meter to measure the amount of waste being generated. The city will accept the waste and charge the county for its disposal. The county will then pass the cost on to residents.

Based on an agreement to provide service drafted in the late 1980s, city council could not refuse to enter into some type of agreement with the county to provide service.

“City council understands that because we have the capacity and this sewer agreement, we will handle the sewage flow,” Darko said. “Our next step will be to pass an ordinance allowing the lines to be extended.”

Gary Newbrough, planning project coordinator for the county, said the project will affect about 140 homeowners all currently using septic tanks. He said the state EPA issued an order stating that sewer lines must be installed in the area.

Cost factors

According to Newbrough, many of those residents also have petitioned the county for sewer lines. He said residents will again be asked to approve the work during public hearings that are mandatory because of the petitions.

“The public will have the right to approve or disapprove of the project based on cost,” he said. “If it’s disapproved, the county will have to make a decision on whether we will still do it. We are hoping to get that approval.”

Cost associated with tying into the system are based on how much frontage a homeowner has. Newbrough said recent similar projects have cost between $75 and $100 a square foot to tie in.

Darko said the city has a tie-in fee of $650. He said, council is considering increasing that fee.

Dennie Parsons, a resident in the Kurmont Heights area, said the cost will be a concern, but most residents want to complete the project.

“I think everyone in the area needs this. They were going to make people start putting in $20,000 to $25,000 septic tanks that may or may not pass inspection,” he said. “Cost is a problem, but if you are looking at $25,000 for a septic system versus hopefully less than $10,000, we are talking about the less of two evils.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com