Elected officials keep moving forward with sewer project

A letter has been drafted for project funding

As elected officials move forward on the court-ordered sewering of Devola, a request has been made of township trustees from each corner of Washington County.

Washington County Engineer Roger Wright and Washington County Commissioner Jamie Booth recently made the pitch before representatives of a majority of the townships, asking for written support to appeal to the Ohio EPA for funding aid of the Devola project.

Wright explained that income-based grant funding options are not open to the project and because of the delays of the former commissioners in executing the project, he is not able to phase the rollout to lower costs.

"I can't take the low-to-moderate income areas and make that a face, and … lower overall costs. The only choice that we have is to take on one big project," said Wright.

He noted that initial estimates for 410 additional homes on sewer were also off by more than 100 homes, which also increased the expected cost of the project.

"So how's that going to affect your township? Basically, we're going to bond out all the money that we need, that's going to affect the county's bond rating," explained Wright. "It's going to affect maybe how much money (the county commissioners) can put in the 1 percent sales tax, it's going to affect all kinds of decisions, it's going to affect schools."

And so the pair asked for the township trustees to exert their leverage as representatives of Washington County's residents.

"The only way that I know is to try to put a little bit of leverage on the H2Ohio fund. It's very political … I really need your help in writing a letter. And the format is right here. Basically, the commissioners and I are only one set of voices … So if I can get some help in sending out a letter. When you send it up and ask for funding for the project because it's really going to affect all of us," Wright said.

Language of the letter draft that Booth and Wright provided both in hard copy and via editable digital format on thumb drives maps out the same request.

THE LETTER

"Dear Ohio EPA H2Ohio Funding Coordinator," it opens. "The ------------------------------Township, in Washington County, Ohio strongly supports Washington County's request for H2Ohio funding to support the Devola Sewer Project."

Booth and Wright reiterated that despite political battles concerning the project, at this stage, the county's court-ordered requirements trump personal opinion.

"The Devola Sewer Project will be the largest public construction and infrastructure project in Washington County in the last 30 years. While the project is located in Muskingum Township it actually affects all of the Townships in the County," reads the letter. "Every dollar that the county is required to loan, or bond negatively impacts the county's ability to promote and develop other projects by limiting its bonding capacity."

Wright explained that limiting the bonding capacity would then also limit the county's ability to support township needs and projects.

"Additionally, county sewer ratepayers reside throughout the county," the letter continues. "The costs of the project will be felt by all ratepayers on the county system. Individual ratepayers who have complied with all the rules and paid their bills timely will see an increase in their monthly sewer bills to accommodate the increased costs on the entire system."

Booth and Wright also emphasized this when explaining to township trustees that the county cannot charge a different rate for residents of Belpre Township or in New Matamoras than those who would come online in Devola.

They noted that by engaging in a formal letter-writing campaign from the positions of township trustees, the weight of representation could sway the funding authority in the favor of the county as a whole for this project.

"H2Ohio funding will reduce the amount of the money that the county is required to bond and will reduce the amount of increase to existing ratepayers. Every citizen of the county will benefit from H2Ohio funding," the letter continues. "We strongly request that you favorably consider the Washington County application and support it to the maximum extent allowed."

For a digital copy of the drafted letter contact Ben Cowdrey, clerk for the Washington County Commissioners, at bcowdery@wcgov.org.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com