Commissioners move ahead on Austintown sewer effort

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County commissioners this morning approved a pre-application to the Appalachian Regional Commission for funding for a sanitary sewer installation in Pineview Drive in Austintown, which would protect Meander Reservoir from sewage pollution.

Meander Reservoir is the drinking water supply for Youngstown, Niles and surrounding communities.

Last August, the commissioners hired North Lima-based Buckeye Civil Design LLC for $30,440 to provide engineering design services for the project and borrowed $425,000 toward the project.

Many of the 18 homes on the dead end street have septic system that have malfunctioned; and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has ordered construction of the new sewer system, said William M. Coleman, office manager at the county sanitary engineer’s office.

After tests found unacceptable levels of fecal coliform bacteria in Ohltown Road storm sewers, the county health board passed a resolution of complaint to OEPA, which threatened enforcement action against the county if the problem isn’t resolved.

In March 2015, the county commissioners adopted an administrative order to abate the unsanitary conditions.

Pineview is off Ohltown Road in the northwest corner of Austintown near the east shore of the reservoir.

The new sewer would connect to an existing sanitary sewer that runs along Ohltown Road.

The failing septic systems will be eliminated when the new sewer goes into service.