Struthers gets increase in grant

STAFF REPORT

STRUTHERS — The city got some good news about funding for a methane-gas-fueled generator project at the sewer plant.

The city is planning to install two generators at the plant that will run on methane gas that’s now burned off as a byproduct of the waste treatment. The generators will cost $4.6 million to design and build, and $1.9 million of that cost was going to come from federal stimulus money allocated through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

But the city heard recently from the Ohio EPA that the grant has been raised to $3,557,176, said city auditor Tina Morell.

That means the city will have to borrow less money for the project — almost $1.1 million, Morell said.

The loan will be taken for 20 years at 3.25 percent, she said.

Mahoning County will share 64.5 percent of the loan. The county uses Struthers’ plant to treat waste from other communities.

The generator project is expected to save the city 60 percent to 70 percent in utility costs at the plant.

Morell said operating costs are between $16,000 and $17,000 a month now.

The Ohio EPA has a list of environmentally friendly community projects it is funding with stimulus money.

If communities decide not to go through with projects, Struthers could receive even more money, Morell said.