The Washington County commissioners are considering a proposal that involves sending sewage from the Barlow area to the county's sewer system.
"The paperwork that's being done between the commissioners and the association and the association and the Ohio EPA would allow the sewer plant and lift station to be closed and the sewage from approximately 60 consumers would go into the Washington County system," explained Jean Yost, president of the White Oak Sewer Association. "Per the original sewer permit, it's time the system is taken into the county."
It was always planned for the county to take over the service as soon as its system could accommodate the additional customers, he said.
While they received the agreement from Yost Thursday, the commissioners have not taken action on it and the financial impact is not yet clear.
"We reviewed it and the only action we took (Thursday) is we'd take it into consideration subject to the upgrades he would need to make to the system prior to him tying it into the county," said commissioner Cora Marshall.
Also on Thursday, the commissioners approved an agreement which allows for the county dog warden to provide services within the city of Marietta. The agreement is valid through Oct. 31, 2012 and requires that the city pay the county $550 per month.
The commissioners' clerk, Rick Peoples, said it's an agreement the commissioners sign each year.
"The amount hasn't changed...and it's already been approved by the city of Marietta," Peoples said.
The commissioners also signed a contract Thursday that allows Washington-Morgan Community Action to add a new bus to its fleet.
The bus is being obtained through the Ohio Department of Transportation's Clean and Green Transit program, Peoples said, at a cost of $54,589.
"It pays for 100 percent of the bus," he said.
Another contract the commissioners signed Thursday allows for the Columbus-based law firm Downes Fishel Hass and Kim LLP to provide legal services on an as-needed basis for the county's child support enforcement agency at a rate of $180 per hour. The contract is valid throughout next year.
