LISBON — A move by Columbiana County commissioners is expected to help reduce the potential monthly fee for Hanoverton sewer customers through an expense of $716,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project.
Commissioners approved the expense at their meeting Wednesday, with Commissioner Mike Halleck briefly touching on the matter before the vote. He noted the board had agreed to get Kensington and Hanoverton the same service.
Kensington got the service first and now the county’s working on the Hanoverton project.
Commissioners received a letter from county Sanitary Engineer Bert Dawson regarding a rate study for the residents of Hanoverton to determine how to come up with a user rate comparable to Kensington.
According to his calculations, based on the debt service, operations and maintenance and the admin fee, the residents of Hanoverton would be paying $13.81 more per month than the residents of Kensington, who currently pay $58.05 per month.
He said by adding $716,000 to the Hanoverton funding, from ARPA funds, the debt service could be reduced to match the Kensington debt service amount. He also noted the treatment cost per user can be reduced by adding the Hanoverton residents to the number of users for the wastewater treatment plant whose size is being increased.
Taking all that into account, Dawson said the proposed rates if approved will be $49.76 per month for both Hanoverton and Kensington residents.
“We gave our word and I think that’s important to keep it, that people in Kensington and Hanoverton will have the same rate,” Halleck said.
In other business, commissioners opened bids for the chiller/cooling tower for the county jail, with Johnson Controls submitting the low bid for $416,440. The other bidder was York Mahoning with a bid of $521,200. The bids were tabled until next week so they can be reviewed for a recommendation.
Commissioners awarded the contract for the culvert replacement project on Metz Road, Fairfield Township to Shook Company LLC for $333,333. Other bids totaled $402,354 and $434,970.
Commissioners approve the hiring of Michael Beck of Salem as the maintenance supervisor for the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services.
During the Investment Advisory Board meeting that included the commissioners, Meeder Investment Management Portfolio Manager Jim McCourt, county Treasurer Bryan Blakeman and Clerk of Courts Tony Dattilio, both McCourt and Blakeman reported on the increased interest income due to higher interest rates for investments. The report noted investment income of $495,318 last year and expected income in 2023 of more than $1.5 million.
The next commissioner meeting will be 9 a.m. July 26 at the downtown courthouse.
mgreier@mojonews.com
Read More: Commissioners approve ARPA funds for Hanoverton project | News, Sports, Jobs