Sanitation official says he expects sewer project will be approved

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The comment period has been extended for a Henn-Hyde sewer project.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

BAZETTA — With the public-comment period expired for the Lakeshore Drive sewer project, the number of residents supporting the plan still appears to be strong, said Gary Newbrough, county sanitary engineer.

A couple of steps remain before for the project can be officially approved by Trumbull County commissioners, he said, such as getting a transcript of the Aug. 9 hearing. Newbrough said he expected commissioners to vote to approve the project in early September.

The project would provide sewer service to a neighborhood on the west side of Mosquito Lake. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency identified the neighborhood as an area of concern because its failed septic systems have contaminated the lake.

Property owners will pay for the sewers, though Newbrough said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, is making an effort to secure grant funding for the project.

Properties added

At an earlier public hearing, Erm Gomes, an Ohio EPA representative, gave verbal agreement to Newbrough to add 10 vacant properties to the 66 parcels already part of the project.

Adding those properties will involve a minor change to the project and should not cause delays, Newbrough said. It will require only a small change in the Sterling Drive Package Plant so that it can accommodate 84,000 gallons per day of sewage instead of 80,000, he added.

After the hearing, homeowners affected by the project were given another week to submit written opinions on it. The only letter that appeared to be a change in position was from a property owner who changed from a no to a yes vote, Newbrough said.

At the time of the hearing, more than 80 percent of the property owners were in favor of the project.

Meanwhile, Newbrough has extended the public comment period until Wednesday for a sewer project involving 66 properties on Henn-Hyde Road in Howland.

A public hearing was July 25. Newbrough said the reason for the extension was because of questions raised about how the sanitary engineer's department calculated the percentage of supporters.

Saturday, August 19, 2006