Perry County Tribune:
Why Is the County Installing More Sewer Systems?
This article, written by Ben Carpenter, was first published in The Perry County Tribune on July 30, 2018.
There is construction currently underway in the Moore’s Junction area and Construction soon to begin in the Rehoboth area to install public sewage systems by the County. A lot of folks have asked about these projects and there are certainly mixed opinions from the residents directly affected.
I want to take a moment to get some facts about these projects out there. On January 27, 2012 the Ohio EPA issued findings and orders against Perry County for violations of sewage conditions for the unincorporated areas for Rehoboth, Old Rainer Road and Moore’s Junction. Working with the Perry County Health Department, the Perry County Commissioners submitted a General Plan for Sewage improvements in September of 2013. That plan detailed the installation of public systems for Rehoboth, and Moore’s Junction, and the PC Health Department assumed the responsibility of working with home owners to insure the private systems along Old Rainer Road functioned properly.
We have taken on this “EPA required” task and have moved forward to complete these overdue projects. We did not initiate these projects, but are required by state law and enforced by the OEPA to correct this issue.
Sewage projects like these are not optional for the residents affected, residents are required to connect. Some people are grateful to see these projects finally happen. People that have poorly operating systems and cannot afford to install a new onsite septic system that meets todays standards. People that are down stream of failed systems and have to live with the pollution and stench of open sewage running in road ditches and on lawns. Other people that have operating systems are not at all happy with this project when they are faced with a pending monthly sewage bill that they never before were faced with.
When I came into office I asked the question; “Why is the county responsible to bear this burden to fix sewage issues out in the un-incorporated areas and on private land”? The answer to that question is found from March 19, 1974. The Commissioners at the time passed a resolution to establish all the land of Perry County located outside of municipal corporations as the “Perry County Sewer District”.
“In establishing said sewer district, it is the purpose to clothe the Board of Commissioners with any and all the powers and duties granted pursuant to Chapter 61.17 of the Revised Code of Ohio and to effect the gathering, treatment and disposal of sewage and/or water with the said District.”
Fast forward to 2018, Commissioners Obrien, Freriks, and Carpenter make the tough and overdue decisions to follow through with work that will ultimately improve our County and further protect our water.
The other thing that must be understood is that the Sewage district must be operated as an enterprise fund, and must be supported 100% by the users. General Revenue money cannot be used to operate the Sewage district operations. So, when people “hold out” for money to be paid for easements, or fight the County on easements or installation, it only increases the cost of the project. And those costs must be placed on the users, their neighbors. There are no “Big County Pockets” to pay for such expenses. We have been able to obtain grants to fund 70%-100% of these projects that will drastically reduce the construction investment and consequently keep the monthly operating costs as low as possible.
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass
