Columbiana to build water plant

March 6, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By D.A. WILKINSON

COLUMBIANA

“We got our money out of it,” said city Manager Keith Chamberlin, referring to Columbiana’s water-treatment plant that was built in 1935 and last updated in 1957.

Chamberlin said that it was a good plant, but it eventually will be torn down.

Council has voted to move ahead with a new $13.5 million water plant.

The new plant will be located at the site of the present plant between Fairfield Avenue and Columbiana-New Waterford Road.

The Egerton family will be paid $380,000 for the property.

Two brothers own it, and one lives on the 78-acre property and will continue to live there as long as he wants.

The city was able to get funding for the project from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some 44 percent of the total cost will be in the form of a grant.

Chamberlin said that the remaining amount will be a loan repaid at 3.25 percent interest over 40 years.

The Akron office of Arcadis, an international company that deals with engineering infrastructure, designed the plans for the new facility.

Chamberlin said that he expects the city to take bids in the latter part of this year and begin work in early 2011.