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Letters for three Devola residents regarding sewering easements were approved Thursday morning by the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
The letters stated what the next steps were if the home owners didn't respond to the letters and calls made to get these last three sets of paperwork signed so the homes can be sewered.
"This is for easements for the main lines," said Commissioner Jamie Booth. "This board of commissioners has been very proactive in helping with a court-ordered project. This was not the commissioners. It was a court-ordered project that had to be done."
He said they will continue the project without these homes if the papers aren't signed, but through the court order, the houses will eventually have to be connected to the main sewer line.
County Engineer Roger Wright said without the easement, there is no way to install the sewer mains on those properties.
Commissioner Kevin Ritter said the people holding out were missing an opportunity to get the court-ordered sewering paid for by someone else. Wright said once the project is completed, those who have not signed easement agreements will have to connect to the main sewer lines at their own expense and with their own contractor.
Wright said they've made more than a dozen attempts along with multiple public meetings, but these three homeowners have refused to negotiate or have a conversation about the project, or they have decided they simply do not want it.
"I don't think we can do any more. We've bent over backwards to try to accommodate, and we're at a point where the project is moving forward because a judge said the project is moving forward," said Commission President Charlie Schilling.
In other commission news, two letters were discussed regarding a Macksburg sewer project. The commissioners have offered a reimbursement of up to $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for water or sewer projects through local associations. Funds will be set aside for Macksburg through Dec. 31, 2024.
Schilling also said requests for reimbursement from ARPA funds for water or sewer projects must be submitted to the commission office by Aug. 31.
The board also approved a three-year lease extension agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank for an ATM at 311 Third St., Marietta. The agreement will let the bank continue to operate the ATM on county property.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.