Elmira, Burlington: $1.6M sewer system funds secured

1/11/2006

WAUSEON - Construction work on a $1.6 million sanitary-sewer system for Elmira and Burlington is expected to get under way this spring.

Federal funding for the project has been secured, including $300,000 in energy and water development funds that is to be presented to Fulton County officials later this month.

U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R., Old Fort) is scheduled to present the $300,000 to county commissioners Jan. 24, said Rhonda Borton, clerk for the board of commissioners.

Ziad Musallam, Fulton County sanitary engineer, said the county also has received confirmation that the project will be awarded $800,000 through U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (R., Ohio).

The U.S. EPA will administer those funds.

The county has secured $500,000 in funds through the Community Development Block Grant program to cover the balance of the cost, Mr. Musallam said.

Plans call for the project, which will connect 80 households in Elmira and Burlington to the Archbold sewer system 3 miles away, to be put out for bid this spring.

Some non-residential connections will be made as well in those communities.

It should take about six months to finish the project that will address Ohio Environmental Protection Agency concerns about unsanitary conditions in the area in German Township.

Ohio EPA stream sampling in 2000 confirmed that there were unsanitary conditions, with documented violations of the state's water-quality standards.

After reviewing options to address the situation, county commissioners decided that the preferred option would be to collect and convey the wastewater to a municipality's plant.

The village of Archbold has agreed to treat the sewage from the new system.

The village would bill the county as one customer for treatment of the sewage, and the county would bill property owners.

Elmira and Burlington have water service from Archbold.