Engineer secures grants, loans for area on west side of Route 11

By D.A. Wilkinson | August 13, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Columbiana County will save $6 million and ease sewage problems in its hilly southern part.

LISBON — Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson said he had “momentous” news.

If not momentous, he added, “It’s a heck of a deal.”

Dawson told the commissioners Wednesday that he has secured $9.8 million in grants and loans to end longtime sewage problems in the hilly southern part of the county.

He said that 61 percent of the funding for the project doesn’t have to be repaid.

That works out to be about $6 million the county won’t have to repay. The area involved is west of state Route 11 and state Route 170.

The funding includes $2 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds, also known as federal stimulus funding.

The new system will include installation of about 43,000 feet of pipe, or about eight miles, in the right of way along about 30 roads and side streets.

The businesses and homes on the affected roads won’t have to pay a tap-in fee, Dawson said.

For many of the property owners, “the tap-in fee was more than they could afford,” he added.

However, the property owners will be responsible for running a line from their property to the new sewer lines.

Dawson said he did not have information on the costs to homeowners.

That price will vary depending the distance from the building or home to the road.

Dawson said the project will also help open up the area to economic development.

Years ago, Dawson helped provide sewer service to the east side of state Route 11 in St. Clair Township, which is now a retail area.

wilkinson@vindy.com