WARREN — Trumbull County officials have yet to reach a deal to bring sanitary sewer services to the new battery-cell plant being constructed in Lordstown.

Several issues are still unsettled, including how much General Motors / LG Chem will be expected to pay in “tap-in” fees, and if the plant will receive sewer bills from the county’s sewer district or Lordstown.

Trumbull County commissioners are expected to meet in executive session with hired counsel during their regular meeting Wednesday to discuss the legality of the different routes the county could take.

The officials and representatives of the $2.3 billion joint venture next to the former GM car plant seem to have agreed the plant will tie into the county’s existing sewer lines where the former GM plant is tied in.

But because the battery-cell plant will be in Lordstown, village Mayor Arno Hill said he believes the plant’s sanitary sewer needs should be addressed in a joint venture. If the county sewer district offers GM a special price, the village could then charge a “small fee” to handle billing, Hill said.

“We feel the county should sit down with us and take a look at possibly giving the plant a better rate, and we would add a small fee on and they would be our customer,” Hill said.

Hill said he reached out to county commissioners several weeks ago to express his ideas but has been met with mixed responses and delays.

“I can’t get them to come to the table. … they are more worried about the political end here. We are bringing in the businesses here, and they aren’t doing what it takes to secure it,” Hill said.

FEE BURDEN

Commissioner Frank Fuda said if Lordstown is allowed to “take a cut” and act as “middleman,” that could force Trumbull County’s 22,000 sewer customers to carry an extra burden. But he agreed it has taken commissioners too long to decide on the best route forward.

“It is up to commissioners to do our part. We can’t sit back and let Lordstown handle it. We … can’t do it if we won’t make the moves to deal with it and take care of it,” Fuda said. “We have to consider our 22,000 customers.”

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said there should be a “streamlined process” for doing business in the county, and that there doesn’t seem to be room for Lordstown in the deal because Trumbull County will be solely responsible for making sure the waste is treated.

“I don’t know what Lordstown would bring to the table, but a cut of the profit,” Cantalamessa said.

Cantalamessa said legal counsel will further explain the rights of the commissioners and possible legal ramifications of sharing the plant as a customer with the village.

County Sanitary Engineer Randy Smith said he is awaiting final direction from the commissioners, but a bulk rate for big users like the plant is “customary” in other places.

If a lower bulk rate were provided, that could adversely affect other sewer customers who are expected to see rate raises in the future, Fuda said.

Hill said if the county attempts to keep them out of the agreement, the village will pursue the plant as a customer on its own.

“We would see if we could get them in our system. We wanted to work with the county to save our plant the capacity, but if they cut us out, they’ll see us lining up to go to commissioners meetings,” Hill said. “Not every deal has to be a political fiasco.”

Cantalamessa said GM has been a county sewer customer since the 1960s, and even though this is a new joint venture with LG Chem, he doesn’t believe Lordstown has a right to take it as a customer when the sewage will flow on county lines.

STREAMLINING

“We have to streamline this process for new investment. We don’t want to add layers,” Cantalamessa said.

The other question involves what “tap-in” fee the plant should pay to the county for the cost of the connection.

While the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer’s office originally calculated the tie-in fee at $2.8 million, a redesign brought costs down to about $1.8 million.

A proposal from Smith to commissioners recommends cutting the $1.8 million fee by 25 percent to $1.35 million.

“I’m against it,” Fuda said. “We have to consider our 22,000 customers. We don’t let them get out of their $1,800 residential tap-in fees.”

Cantalamessa said the tie-in will be relatively simple because the connection is being made through the old plant’s connection.

“I think we can negotiate a fair rate that factors in the fact that they are not a brand new customer, that is business friendly, and acknowledges that they are here to create jobs,” Cantalamessa said.

Commissioner Dan Polivka said the commissioners can look out for its customers while still “working something out.”

“Our 22,000 customers are important, but we also want to welcome GM and do what we can for them,” he said. “We should have a better idea of everything after we talk to the attorney Wednesday.”

rfox@tribtoday.com