Tuesday, November 09, 1999
Sewer extension key to growth
Middletown project would open area
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — A sewer extension that is about to get under way will open the door for development of more than 1,000 acres of prime industrial and commercial land near Interstate 75.
By the time that project goes to city commissioners for final approval next week, Warren County might have decided whether to link with Mid dletown or Franklin for sewers to serve the Hunter area.
Middletown's $1.1 million Dick's Creek Trunk Sewer Extension will extend sanitary sewers from Lefferson Road across I-75 and up to Ohio 122 and Union Road, Middletown Engineer Andy Braun said.
“This area is an important key to the city's economic future, and having no sewer there has prevented development,” Mr. Braun said. Having the infrastructure in place or at least under way should quickly spur interest, he said.
At the Nov. 16 meeting, city commissioners will consider an ordinance to approve the project and advertise for bids. The goal is to have a signed contract by the end of the year, start work early next year and finish by late May.
The new sewers, funded 78 percent by the city with the balance from assessments of 22 property owners, will replace the temporary lift station and sewers for part of that area, which are at capacity.
“These sewers are necessary to bring development of all the land,” including parts annexed in 1997, Mr. Braun said. “But the sewers will need to be extended from there to totally serve some parts of those 1,000 acres. Future plans include extending the sewers further east on Ohio 122 and north and south on Union Road. There's no time table on that project.”
Negotiations are continuing on an estimated $8 million project for Warren County to tap into Middletown sewers to serve 750 homes in six subdivisions in Hunter. Many of those properties, just east of where Middletown's extension will end, have failing sewage disposal systems.
Warren County has the option of linking to Middletown sewers or to Franklin's.
“We're probably no more than a week to 10 days away from making the decision,” said Richard Renneker, county sanitary engineer. “I'm taking county commissioners some additional information on costs. I'll talk to them (today) and they'll take a look at it and maybe made a decision then or possibly at Thursday's meeting.”
There are advantages and disadvantages to both, Mr. Renneker said.
“There is no clear choice,” he said. “The advantage to going to Middletown is there's no pumping involved, it's all gravity. ... But the advantage of going to Franklin is that it opens up a greater area. There is a little more cost up front, but less in the future.”
Middletown is considering a proposal to start charging tap-in fees of $1,500 each to hook up to the city's water and sewers. Franklin's tap-in fee is $500 each, which means tap fees alone for the Hunter project would be $750,000 less with Franklin. And Middletown charges $2.48 per 1,000 gallons to treat sewage; Franklin Regional Wastewater Treatment Corp.'s cost is $1.40 per 1,000 gallons, Mr. Renneker said.
But Middletown's rates could be negotiable.
“We've let them know the door is still open to work on this ... that we're willing to look at a fair price for both of us,” Mr. Braun said.
During the Nov. 16 meeting, commissioners also will have a public hearing on the proposed tap-in fees, which have brought complaints from developers.
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