Local officials met on Tuesday to discuss funding for the proposed multi-district wastewater plant based in Richwood.
Union County Commissioner Dave Burke, former County Engineer and former County Commissioner Steve Stolte, Assistant County Engineer Bill Narducci, the Village of Magnetic Springs Mayor Martha “Kathy” Cantrell and Village of Richwood Mayor Scott Jerew met with Craig Mescher, a project manager at Access Engineering Solutions at the Union County Commissioners Office, 233 W. Sixth Street Suite 1178 in Marysville.
Burke said Union County has “a working and administrative partnership with Magnetic Springs.”
He added that the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds require federal compliance with procurement and bids.
“Rather than burden Magnetic Springs with these costs, it makes sense Union County would act as the agent as we are applying for the same project and using the same resources,” Burke said. “It’s cost effective and frankly makes it simpler for all. Ultimately, we end up with a sewer district that over time could possibly become a municipal system as Richwood becomes a city with time. This could mirror Marysville’s system in the central and southern part of the county should that path be chosen by future leaders and residents.”
The Union County Commissioners hired Access Engineering Solutions to conduct a study for Magnetic Springs’ wastewater treatment system. The engineering report was released in summer 2020.
According to the Sanitary Sewer Preliminary Engineering Report conducted by Access Engineering Solutions, the Ohio EPA and the Union County Health Department were “aware of the deteriorated condition of the water resources in the Village of Magnetic Springs.”
The favored solution was a gravity sewer system and then conveyance of the village’s wastewater to the Village of Richwood, according to the report.
With the village’s small size, Access Engineering Solutions recommended Magnetic Springs consider “moving forward with a regional system, involving Magnetic Springs, Union County and the Village of Richwood. This will help create a customer base for the residents in Magnetic Springs and lower the overall costs.
According to Access Engineering’s study, the proposed sanitary sewer system project is expected to cost over $4 million. The cost includes the collection system, lift station and the transporting of waste from Magnetic Springs to Richwood.
During the meeting on Tuesday, officials discussed financial assistance from various state and federal agencies, including the Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), the Ohio Department of Development Community Development Block Grant Programs (CDBG) for water and sewer service, USDA/Rural Development water and waste disposal loans and grants, Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grants, loans or credit enhancement, Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) loan program and County CDBG Formula Grant Funds.
Jerew said Mescher is also researching opportunities for funding from ARPA dollars and President Joe Biden’s proposed Build Back Better agenda, which passed through the House of Representatives and is currently in the Senate.
Officials are still in the pre-planning stage for the plant. Jerew said the officials hope to have plans for the project by the end of 2022, with construction slated for mid-2023.
“We have a draft timeline to keep us on track,” Burke said. “We will be having public meetings (in summer 2022) with details, estimates and drawings for input. Richwood will be able to increase its system capacity and effluent purity upon buildout. This will lead to a true regional system in Union County, aside from Marysville.
“Future growth will be enabled and thoughtful as public utility systems empower jurisdictions to enforce zoning and expansions thoughtfully,” he continued. “We are all excited to minimize local expense while cleaning up failing residential sewer systems, adding a true regional system and allowing thoughtful growth in the future.”