LORDSTOWN — Village officials say they are prepared to make their statements at an upcoming hearing for Trumbull Energy Center, which is seeking renewal of a permit for discharge of wastewater and excess water from the power plant.

Members of village council and its Board of Public Affairs met Tuesday to discuss the hearing set for 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at the community room at the village administration building. BPA member Stan Czeck said the hearing is for a discharge permit for the new energy center.

He said there will be occasions at the plant where workers may need to dump excess water. There is a holding pond at the plant, but there is concern about where the excess water will go.

Village officials want to make sure the excess water is in the sanitary system and not in nearby Mud Creek.

Czeck said the area where Mud Creek runs includes property off Goldner Lane behind the power plant and then runs from Highland Avenue to the Brookhollow development.

“Officials do not want any discharge going into the creek to avoid flooding. We hope this does not ever happen,” Czeck said.

He said officials are concerned if the overflow from the plant gets into Mud Creek, it will cause flooding on nearby farmland where there is livestock. The animals drink water from Mud Creek.

Village Mayor Jackie Woodward said at the EPA hearing, Village Engineer Chris Kogelnik, Village Solicitor Matt Ries, BPA Board President Chris Peterson and Councilman Jamie Moseley will speak on behalf of the village.

Moseley was selected since his property is near Trumbull Energy Center and would be affected if there is flooding.

Kogelnik said he will address the Permit to Install (PTI) application.

“The most important thing we want to learn from the PTI application is the operation and maintenance requirements of the pond and discharge system at the center. This way, the village has the confidence that there is a plan that shows that someone there responsibly can operate and maintain that discharge,” he said.

Kogelnik said it is important that the holding pond at the site accepts stormwater and excess water discharge from the plant.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said fire inspections were done at the plant and officials there told firefighters there would be no plans to put anything in Mud Creek and the plant will use the sewers for excess discharge.

He said company officials have been very cooperative working with fire officials during safety inspections.

Officials also recommended that a representative of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District attend the hearing for any input.

Peterson said it is important that the sewers be used to avoid any possible flooding issues and because residents’ livestock drink from the creek..

Planning / Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner said when there is heavy rainfall, Mud Creek already gets a lot of water and can overflow.

Bordner said it is important that the farmers’ voices be heard at the hearing as well.

She said a letter could be sent this week advising those property owners about the meeting.