Brown to introduce to improve water quality while keeping rates affordable

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will be at Mill Creek MetroParks Tuesday to discuss legislation he plans to introduce to improve water quality while keeping rates affordable.

Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, will be joined by Aaron Young, Mill Creek’s executive director, and Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, to discuss the senator’s proposal that he said would provide relief to Youngstown and other communities who are struggling to pay for costly but needed renovations to old sewer systems.

The city will spend $146 million over the next 18 years to eliminate sewer discharges into Mill Creek and other waterways. Youngstown is seeking various options on the state and federal levels to obtain some of that money to get the work done quicker.

Eliminating sewer discharges has been at the center of local attention since heavy rain in late June caused an overflow that contributed to a massive fish kill in Lake Newport at the park. That was followed by the indefinitely closure of lake Newport, Cohasset and Glacier because of high E. coli sewage bacteria levels.

Brown’s legislation would provide relief to Youngstown to help reduce future water and sewer rate increases to attract new businesses, create jobs, and preserve the environment, according to his office.