NILES — Trumbull County Commissioners said they have secured as many grants and other funding for a $3.4 million sanitary sewer improvement project in the Crain Drive neighborhood in Weathersfield as they could, but residents will still have to pay their share to tap into the system.

Commissioners hosted a public hearing Wednesday at Niles McKinley High School where the project, which is set to begin in October, was explained to more than 40 residents.

“This project has been planned and worked on for the past five years,” said Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer Gary Newbrough. He said the project will begin in early October and is expected to be completed in 180 days.

He said 68 properties will benefit from the project with connections in front yards on both sides of the streets included in the project.

“This will be major construction in your neighborhood. Expect excavators and dump trucks there for heavy construction,” Newbrough said, emphasizing that all properties that will be dug up will be restored afterward.

He noted there will be 20-foot trenches dug for the sewer lines.

Streets included in the project are Anderson Morris Road, Bianco Avenue, Carl Street, Crain Drive, Forest Avenue, Gardenland Street, Mary Street, Oakwood Avenue, St. Francis Avenue, Stillwagon Road and Wabash Avenue.

The project will include 68 6-inch service connectors within the public right of way and 40 pre-cast concrete manholes.

Bill Makosky, Trumbull County assistant sanitary engineer, said petitions from a majority of the property owners in the Crain Drive area were submitted in August 2021 to the commissioners for sanitary sewers because of problems with failed septic systems that created a health concern. He said the sewers will be treated at the Girard wastewater treatment plant.

Makosky said the county sanitary engineer’s office and the county planning commission were able to secure approximately $2.1 million from an Ohio Public Works Commission grant, an Appalachian Regional Commission grant, American Rescue Plan funds and Community Development Block Grants to help cover the project costs.

He said an additional $200,000 in CDBG funds will be available to help residents who financially qualify to pay their costs, with remaining costs to be covered by a 0% loan from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Newbrough said with 68 properties, the cost per property to cover the remaining costs is a capital charge of $35 per month per user, which he said has been the maximum charge the county has charged for any grant-funded projects.

He said sewer bills for the properties will be $9.75 per 1,000 gallons of water used with average water usage of a single-family home at 4,500 gallons per month.

Officials said other costs for the property owners is a plumbing inspection fee and septic abandonment fee of $125 and tap-in fee to procure a sanitary sewer permit at $1,890.

MS Consultants did the design for the project.

Weathersfield Administrator David Rouan said the project has been discussed since 2021.

RESIDENTS’ INPUT

Resident Gary Rouzer of Bianco Avenue said he supports the project instead of having to spend money to fix his septic system.

“I am glad the county is finally doing this project. I wish it was 20 years ago when it wouldn’t have cost as much, but that’s life,” Rouzer said.

Resident Susan Olive of Anderson Morris Road said she also supports the project being done as she has fought for sewer and water.

She said there have been problems with sewage in the ditches.

“I thank you all for what you have done. I wish we had more ARP money for this project, but this is what it is,” Olive said.

Resident Kimberly Little, speaking for her father, Gus Cost of Crain Drive, said he has lived in his home since 1962, and asked if the new construction of homes at the end of the street would change the cost for the other 68 property owners.

Newbrough said the new properties also would have to pay a monthly capital charge, but that will not change any costs for other properties. He said the county secured many grants to help reduce the project costs and is offering assistance to low-to-moderate income residents.

Little said her father never signed a petition for the project.

Trisha Bell of Anderson Morris Road said she also never received a petition to sign seeking the project and nothing was brought to her family’s attention about the project.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez said having the sanitary sewers installed will benefit the property owners if they sell their homes in the future

“The sewer system will enhance the value of your home,” he said.

Written comments from the public on the project will be received through Aug. 1 to the attention of the county commissioners, 160 High St. NW, Warren, OH 44481.