LISBON - Columbiana County received notice another piece of the funding puzzle is officially in place for the Kensington sewer project, with plant construction expected to begin this year.

"Our plan is to be under construction this summer," said Troy Graft, assistant county sanitary engineer.

A news release issued this week by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's office announced a $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission had been awarded to county commissioners, six months after the newspaper reported the application had received preliminary approval.

The $250,000 is part of the funding package being assembled by county Engineer Bert Dawson to fund construction of the Kensington sewage treatment plant, mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to address the problem of widespread malfunctioning septic systems in that area. It is the county's responsibility since Kensington is an unincorporated area.

The cost now is an estimated $2.5 million (previously $1.9 million) and commissioners have contributed $184,000 to the project from their annual allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant money, plus another $100,000 from the county's share of state casino tax money. Commissioners are seeking a $600,000 grant for the project through another CDBG program.

Graft said they also recently learned the Ohio Water Development Authority has a new grant program for sewer projects that serve income-eligible households and Kensington would likely qualify for between $500,000 and $750,000.

"(OWDA) told me the money's there and we qualify," he said.

Dawson is pleased with the amount of grant money obtained for the project because it reduces the amount the county will have to borrow, and the smaller the loans the less money residents and businesses served by the sewer plant will be charged in user fees to retire the construction debt.

"We try to get to at least 50 percent (grant). With the $250,000, we're close to 70 percent grant," he said.

The Kensington project will serve 77 households and three business, and there will be no tap fee, Graft said. As part of the additional CDBG grant money sought by commissioners is $100,000 to help households that qualify connect to the sewer line.

Read more here:
Kensington sewer to receive funding

Friday, March 7, 2014 1:05 AM EST

By STEVE COLLINS STAFF WRITER

BRISTOL A developer hopes to create a 16-lot subdivision off Jerome Avenue.

David Rock, who has built many homes in the area over the years, hopes to put up 15 new colonials with a price tag of about $275,000 and to renovate a ranch-style house in an 8-acre parcel at 701 Jerome Ave.

Rock said the new houses in Sturbridge Estates would generally have three bedrooms and two-car garages.

The citys Planning Commission is eyeing the proposed subdivision in a hearing that will be continued at its March 26 meeting.

Planners appear to have few concerns about the project as a whole, but want to take a look at a few proposed lots within it to see if they provide enough of a backyard.

The developer also plans to make formal requests to waive a city requirement that he install dry sewer lines within the new subdivision, which is slated to rely on septic systems, and for the right to put sidewalks on only one side of the road that would weave through the neighborhood.

Rock said theres no reason to require the costly sewer pipes because the lot has the best soil for septic systems that hes seen in decades.

Tim Furey, a land use lawyer hired by Rock, said that putting a sidewalk on only one side of the road will leave more grass and require less concrete surfaces. More green is better, he said.

See the article here:
Developer hopes to build on Jerome Ave.

Green Lake residents will have two years to hook into the municipal sewer system before Nanaimo officials crack down on stragglers.

Nanaimo city council opted to phase in fees and give Green Lake-area residents more time to connect to a new municipal sewer system, during an open meeting last week.

The move will give 27 landowners until 2016 to hook into the sewer service before they are given warning notices. People will also see a gradual increase in connection costs instead of an immediate $1,800 charge, beginning in March. The city originally agreed to waive the $1,800 connection fee until Feb. 28.

The move defers the time when the city is going and [issuing 180-day] notices to connect and allows people a bit more time to find ways to connect both financially and technically, said Poul Rosen, the citys manager of engineering projects.

By the same token, it also increases the cost to people that have waited.

The City of Nanaimo agreed to install sewer services in the Green Lake area in 2011, almost four decades after amalgamation. There were concerns aging septic systems could be affecting the health of the lake.

It is now mandatory for residents to join the system.

As of this week, the city will charge $600 for connection fees and put notes on property files that limit building permits and subdivisions. The charge will increase to $1,200 in 2015.

So far the majority of landowners 71 of the potential 98 have joined the system or are in the process of hooking in. Some people have claimed making the connection will impose a financial hardship, while others say they already have a system that works and dont plan on using the city system. There will be stragglers, said Rosen, adding the city will eventually need to find a way to deal with them.

The waiver program has cost the city approximately $130,000 in lost revenue, while $1.5 million has been spent on design and construction of the new system.

See the original post:
Nanaimo pushes sewer connection for Green Lake residents

The Bay View sewer project will be good for the environment in Erie County and will make Lake Eries water cleaner.

But the construction to install the sewer system better not harm a rare turtle, Ohio Division of Wildlife officials say.

Erie County officials are being told to make sure Blandings turtle isnt harmed by the project. The Great Lakes turtle is considered threatened in Ohio and endangered in many other states, and its been found in other areas of Erie County.

Wildlife officials also want to make sure the project doesnt harm the Indianabat, an endangered bat species, and Kirtlands warbler, an endangered bird that migrates through Ohio.

At least Erie County health department officials trying to coordinate the project dont have to worry about hurting bears.

A January letter from Ohio Department of Natural Resources real estate official John Kessler to Roberta Acosta, an Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program official in Toledo helping with the project, outlines the steps that must be taken to protect wildlife. The letter notes that the project iswithin the range of the black bear, a state endangered species.

Bears are pretty mobile, though, so the project is not likely to have an impact on this species, Kessler assured Acosta.

Erie County health department officials remain optimistic the county will obtain a big federal grant soon, allowing construction of a sewer line system that will replace aging and leaky septic tank systems blamed for fouling nearby beaches.

Bob England, director of environmental health for the Erie County Health Department, said the department plans to hire a herpetologist to make sure any Blandings turtles hanging aroundthe construction site wont be harmed and submit a report to the state.

State wildlife officials have sought to revive the Blandings turtle population at Erie Countys Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve by stocking it with young turtles raised by Cleveland MetroParks and by trapping and removing raccoons, who enjoy munching on turtle eggs.

Excerpt from:
Sewer project may harm rare species

The Boone law firm on Avenida Del Circo says Venice is violating a 2001 agreement in which the firm prepaid for water and sewer connections the city says it must now install. The firm says the city is insisting on a larger water line and meter than is needed. (Photo/ Dale White)

VENICE - For roughly 20 years, the city of Venice has been gradually annexing unincorporated enclaves on the island and connecting the properties to its water and sewer service.

The last few potential utilities customers are now getting connected with a single notable exception.

The law firm of Boone, Boone, Boone, Koda & Frook is standing its ground. Although it agrees to make the connections, it insists the city is not abiding by a 2001 agreement in which the firm prepaid for its hook-ups.

The Boone law firm is known for representing developers and playing an influential role in local politics.

Regardless, on this matter, it is not being shown any favors at City Hall.

The city cites several reasons for the annexations and utility connections: Expanding its tax base. Eliminating the need for sheriff's deputies to pass through the city to respond to calls. Getting rid of septic systems that can fail and pollute.

In 1996, the city had about 420 enclaves with an average of two properties being annexed each month. By 2002, that number was down to 170.

In 2001, the Boone firm voluntarily annexed its 73,470-square-foot site with its Colonial-styled, pillared brick building behind a black iron fence at 1001 Avenida Del Circo. It paid $2,985 in annexation costs that included sewer and water fees.

It convinced the city to give it an extension on the requirement to connect to the utilities system.

View original post here:
Venice law firm spars with city over utility connection

For Cowpower, green and local energy is only a field away.

In one year, the manure from a single cow could produce more than 1,700 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Matt Dickson has a plan. A plan that, while still in its beginning stages (and not without its hiccups), has the potential to fuel a big change in local energy consumption. A plan that, if it comes to fruition, has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce additional income for local farms.

Dickson is the founder and manager of Cowpower, a renewable energy supplier that sells energy produced by local farmers to B.C. businesses, homes and events -- an operation made possible largely through the use of a single magic ingredient: manure.

The science of biogas

"The technology itself is called anaerobic digestion," Dickson explains. "Essentially, it's a waste-to-energy technology which takes manure from cows, and other food waste that would otherwise go to the landfill, or a wastewater treatment plant, and it converts that into a methane-rich gas. When that gas is pulled out of the system and burned in a clean-burning engine, it produces carbon-neutral electricity."

The process is remarkably simple: when heated to approximately 30 degrees C, and in the absence of oxygen, organic materials (such as manure, and other food waste products) are broken down by bacteria into biogas (mostly methane and carbon dioxide), which can be used to generate heat, electricity and fuels.

The materials remain in the digester for 21 to 30 days, at which time the gas is collected, leaving behind a "digestate" -- an odourless byproduct which is separated into solids and liquids. The liquids are used as fertilizer, and the solids can be kept as bedding material for livestock.

The system is almost entirely self-contained, and with the exception of wood, all organic material can be broken down for biogas production. Not only that, but the potential benefits are enormous: in one year, the manure from a single cow (approximately 40 tonnes) could realistically produce more than 1,700 kilowatt hours of electricity. A herd of 200 could produce nearly 350,000 kw/h -- or between $35,000 to $50,000 worth of electricity.

"I can't stress enough the benefits enough," Dickson says. "You install a wind turbine or a solar panel, and you'll get carbon-neutral energy. But when you have a digester, you're you're also looking at greenhouse gas reductions.... We're capturing that methane, and when you burn that methane, you convert it to carbon dioxide. It's a 23-1 difference in their warming potential."

Read the original here:
Beautiful Relationships: Local Biz Sees the Upside of Dung (in News)

The Boone law firm on Avenida Del Circo says Venice is violating a 2001 agreement in which the firm prepaid for water and sewer connections the city says it must now install. The firm says the city is insisting on a larger water line and meter than is needed. (Photo/ Dale White)

VENICE - For roughly 20 years, the city of Venice has been gradually annexing unincorporated enclaves on the island and connecting the properties to its water and sewer service.

The last few potential utilities customers are now getting connected with a single notable exception.

The law firm of Boone, Boone, Boone, Koda & Frook is standing its ground. Although it agrees to make the connections, it insists the city is not abiding by a 2001 agreement in which the firm prepaid for its hook-ups.

The Boone law firm is known for representing developers and playing an influential role in local politics.

Regardless, on this matter, it is not being shown any favors at City Hall.

The city cites several reasons for the annexations and utility connections: Expanding its tax base. Eliminating the need for sheriff's deputies to pass through the city to respond to calls. Getting rid of septic systems that can fail and pollute.

In 1996, the city had about 420 enclaves with an average of two properties being annexed each month. By 2002, that number was down to 170.

In 2001, the Boone firm voluntarily annexed its 73,470-square-foot site with its Colonial-styled, pillared brick behind a black iron fence at 1001 Avenida Del Circo. It paid $2,985 in annexation costs that included sewer and water fees.

It convinced the city to give it an extension on the requirement to connect to the utilities system.

Read the original here:
NEW: Venice law firm spars with city over utility connection

For Cowpower, green and local energy is only a field away.

In one year, the manure from a single cow could produce more than 1,700 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Matt Dickson has a plan. A plan that, while still in its beginning stages (and not without its hiccups), has the potential to fuel a big change in local energy consumption. A plan that, if it comes to fruition, has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce additional income for local farms.

Dickson is the founder and manager of Cowpower, a renewable energy supplier that sells energy produced by local farmers to B.C. businesses, homes and events -- an operation made possible largely through the use of a single magic ingredient: manure.

The science of biogas

"The technology itself is called anaerobic digestion," Dickson explains. "Essentially, it's a waste-to-energy technology which takes manure from cows, and other food waste that would otherwise go to the landfill, or a wastewater treatment plant, and it converts that into a methane-rich gas. When that gas is pulled out of the system and burned in a clean-burning engine, it produces carbon-neutral electricity."

The process is remarkably simple: when heated to approximately 30 degrees C, and in the absence of oxygen, organic materials (such as manure, and other food waste products) are broken down by bacteria into biogas (mostly methane and carbon dioxide), which can be used to generate heat, electricity and fuels.

The materials remain in the digester for 21 to 30 days, at which time the gas is collected, leaving behind a "digestate" -- an odourless byproduct which is separated into solids and liquids. The liquids are used as fertilizer, and the solids can be kept as bedding material for livestock.

The system is almost entirely self-contained, and with the exception of wood, all organic material can be broken down for biogas production. Not only that, but the potential benefits are enormous: in one year, the manure from a single cow (approximately 40 tonnes) could realistically produce more than 1,700 kilowatt hours of electricity. A herd of 200 could produce nearly 350,000 kw/h -- or between $35,000 to $50,000 worth of electricity.

"I can't stress enough the benefits enough," Dickson says. "You install a wind turbine or a solar panel, and you'll get carbon-neutral energy. But when you have a digester, you're you're also looking at greenhouse gas reductions.... We're capturing that methane, and when you burn that methane, you convert it to carbon dioxide. It's a 23-1 difference in their warming potential."

Visit link:
Local Biz Sees the Upside of Dung (in News)

If you have experience in construction, or in using a backhoe or crane, then you may be up to the challenge of installing a septic tank. You could also need a number of permits, depending on your area, such as:

Some of the items you will need for the job include a backhoe, crane, a laser level, and shovels. Then with work gloves, coveralls, hip boots, and goggles, you can be ready for this major project.

If you don't have experience in plumbing or construction, then make sure to call A-1 Sewer & Septic Service Inc. to help you out!

The process beings with paperwork. You will have to contact officials for your city, county, and state at the very least, and you may also need to talk to other people involved with your property, such as a community council, mobile park owner, etc. Not every property is allowed to have a septic tank installed; there are certain requirements that have to be fulfilled. These authorities need to know the dimensions of your proposed septic tank and drainage/leach field. Remember to take into account replacement or expansion plans you may have later on, as well as setbacks, the ability to access the tank for maintenance, etc.:

After these calculations, you can draw map with your tank and drain field to give to authorities, along with the other necessary documents. Then you could be allowed to proceed with your plans, or you may be told of revisions you need to make before you can proceed. Then once you have the green light, you will have to inform your local utilities that you want to dig. Then someone will come to plot out where the utility lines are so that you do not hit them; you will also need to use chalk or white paint to show where you plan to dig.

This starts with using a backhoe to create a hole for the septic tank and to dig out drain field trenches. As for actually installing the tank itself, you need a certified contractor to help you with this, as a mistake with moving a tank can result in severe injuries or even death. The tank is very heavy and needs to be carefully lowered into the hole, and the bottom and upper halves of the tank need to be firmly in place and aligned. Once in place, you will have to put in enough water into the tank (manufacturer instructions will tell you how much this is). A tank that is overfilled can rupture.

The overflow pipe extending from the septic tank will have to go into the drain field trenches. You will also need to install the mesh containers of septic medium into those trenches. After everything is installed, you will need to inspect for any leaks. Once everything is good to go, you can carefully refill the excavations, but do not dump earth over the top of the septic tank, so you can get to the hatch for maintenance.

As you can see, this is not a task for a novice do-it-yourselfer to tackle. Even if you have completed some difficult projects on your property, there are jobs best left to the professionals or that require an expert's help. One mistake could not only result in health-threatening contamination, but it could lead to hefty fines as well.

There is nothing simple about installing a septic tank or system. If you are looking for a Kansas City plumber with the qualifications and experience you need for a septic system job, look no further than A-1 Sewer & Septic Service, Inc. Our team of expert plumbing technicians can handle any issue you face with plumbing, whether great or small. To learn how we may be able to help you with installing a septic system, do not hesitate to get your free, no-obligation quote when you contact us today.

Read more from the original source:
Septic Tank Installation - Kansas Plumbing Company

Published: Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, 1:01a.m. Updated 18 hours ago

The Winfield Township supervisors on Thursday night passed a winter mailbox policy that might come into play next week, if weather forecasts are correct.

Forecasters say heavy snow might be coming early next week, which would send road crews out to plow the township's roads.

Should a mailbox be damaged during snow plowing, its placement will determine who would be responsible to fix it.

Mailboxes can't be installed in rights of way, and if they get damaged, the township won't pay. But mailboxes damaged by snow plows on private property, outside the right of way, will be the township's responsibility.

Also, mailboxes damaged by thrown snow are the responsibility of the property owner.

Officials said this had been an unwritten policy for years, but now the policy is official.

The policy will be placed on the township's new website in about three weeks. The web address is http://www.winfieldtownship.net.

The township's public works crew was busy in January, plowing at least once in 21 of the month's 31 days.

Officials added that there is an adequate road salt supply.

Excerpt from:
Heavy snow may test Winfields mailbox policy