Commissioners expected to approve Trumbull septic-system replacement

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected to approve a contract today with King Brothers of Bristolville to replace 14 county septic systems at a cost of $223,150.

County officials said $180,000 of that amount is coming from federal stimulus money.

Julie Green, grants coordinator for the county’s planning commission, said the systems will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 each. Construction and other steps must be completed by Nov. 15.

The county qualified for $180,000 and had to provide a 25-percent share — $60,000. The benefiting property owners will have to repay the local share — 25 percent of the cost of their septic system — over time through their property taxes, Green said.

King Brothers was selected over Jardine Buildings & Septic Services Inc. of Girard and Digging Dirt LLC of Warren.

Green and the county health board worked together to put together plans for the 14 property owners and a few extras so that the projects can be built quickly according to the requirements.

They received help from the county auditor’s office and prosecutor’s office.

The stimulus money was passed down through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Department of Health.

Mahoning County was approved for $170,000, and Columbiana County was approved for $112,500.

Property owners who qualified for the program had to meet eligibility requirements that included family income of no more than 200 percent of the poverty guidelines.

A family of four, for example, was eligible if its gross annual income was no more than $44,100.

The Trumbull health department notified 60 property owners that they met at least some of the requirements, such as having a failed system, as judged by the department.

The properties were then selected on a first-come, first-served basis of completing an application.

Commissioner Paul Heltzel said he expected the contract to be approved, adding, “That’s a great program. It’s too bad there isn’t more money, because there are a lot of other people who could use the help.”

With a septic-system replacement costing around $16,000, low-income people frequently can’t afford one, he said. It’s one reason some people walk away from their home and allow it to go into foreclosure, he said.