Federal money to help end Columbiana Co. sewage woes

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — Columbiana County is going to get federal stimulus money to help end some longtime sewage problems in the county’s southern section.

Troy Graft, the chief engineer with the county engineer’s office, told the county commissioners Wednesday that the county will receive $2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

The money is part of $9.8 million in grants and loans that Bert Dawson, the county engineer, put together to end sewage problems in the county west of state Routes 11 and 170. Graft told the commissioners that of the $2 million in federal stimulus money in the project, some $1.5 million has been approved as a grant.

The county will have to repay the remaining $500,000 over 20 years at what he said was the bargain rate of one percent interest.

The new system will include installation of about 43,000 feet of pipe, or about eight miles, in the right of way along about 30 roads and side streets.

Businesses and homes won’t have to pay for tap-ins, but they will have to pay for the lines to the sewers.

The move also would open up the area for economic development.

Graft also told the commissioners that it will be up to contractors if they want to begin the project this year.

He added that the package, which also includes funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was what state officials were looking for in new projects.

The county commissioners also opened bids from demolition firms to take down 15 homes in the county which will also be paid with stimulus funds. Salem and East Liverpool, the county’s two largest cities, were able to get demolition funds directly rather than bidding with the rest of the county.

The county’s economic development department will create a spread sheet to help determine the bid winners.

Penny Traina, the president of the commissioners, said their may be another round of stimulus funds coming to the county. She said there were a total of 26 deteriorating structures that local officials wanted demolished.