The Washington County Commissioners are considering the possibility of providing sewer service to the Oak Grove area and although discussions are preliminary, some property owners are concerned about future costs and look forward to more information on the project.

Sanitary engineer John Grosse said it's a long term project that could take up to seven years to complete, and he and the commissioners are in the preliminary stages of the discussions.

"It's one of those things that will take time to get developed. We don't want to rush it," he said. "The goal is to provide sanitary sewer service to residents and businesses."

Commissioner Cora Marshall and Grosse said the Oak Grove area has had issues with sewage in the past. Homes and businesses there are required to have on-site septic systems.

"In the older area of Oak Grove, the lots are very small and they've had issues with flooding. There's a small stream that goes through up there and most of the lots are less than half an acre," said Marshall.

Grosse added that failing septic systems and raw sewage have also been a problem for the area. Marshall said the sewer service would eliminate septic tank issues, help with future development, and increase property values.

Dennis Blauser, who owns 75 acres in the Oak Grove area, is in favor of the sewer service.

"It would be much more advantageous to have a state-of-the-art sewer system to handle the sewer needs in the area," he said. "It would be nothing but a benefit to attract jobs to the area."

Blauser owns Marietta Silos on Waterford Road in Marietta and is in the process of developing the Silos Commerce Center in Oak Grove, which is a development for office facilities and warehousing. He said the center should be on the market shortly.

Grosse said the financial details of the sewer service are currently being discussed. He would not speculate about tap-in fees, but acknowledged that if an agreement is made, there will be a cost for the homeowners in the Oak Grove area to crush and fill-in their current septic systems, so a safety hazard doesn't arise. He added that there will be grants available to help low-income families cover these costs.

"The commissioners are adamant on trying to find grant money to minimize the burden on the residents," he said.

Hanson Drive resident Richard Sams fears that a sewage agreement could result in a financial burden for some of his neighbors.

"My concerns are monetary. Close to half of the people on my street are elderly and I know it was a hardship for those in Devola when sewer hookups became mandatory," he said.

Sams added that he has never had problems with his septic tank, and has only had to perform routine maintenance on it.

William Stacy, who lives on B.F. Goodrich Road, feels ill-informed about the possibility of sewer service being provided on his farm.

"I'd like to be better informed," he said.

Grosse said there will be informational meetings for the public in the future.

"We don't have it tied down, but shortly after the first of the year we will hold meetings and allow people to ask questions before it's sprung on them," he said. "It's critical to keep the public involved."