By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - City officials are moving ahead with plans for a new wastewater treatment plant they hope will sustain the city's continued growth.

The city's plant on U.S. 42 near Ohio 741, treats an average of 4.2 million gallons daily - nearing its capacity of 5 million gallons. The new plant, slated to open in 2005, will hold an average of 13 million gallons a day.

Before hiring Jacobs Civil Inc., an engineering firm with a local office in Forest Park, to complete pre-construction work, City Council discussed for nearly two hours last week whether it should pursue other options.

Councilman Tom Grossmann argued that the city should look into such options as privatization and regionalism before approving the $150,000 contract. It might be cheaper for Mason to work with Lebanon or other growing parts of Warren County for a combined wastewater treatment plant, he said.

"It may well be that this is the right track, but the answers to the questions I had asked were not answered earlier," Mr. Grossmann said repeatedly. "I'm only asking for enough time."

Nonetheless, council voted 5-2 to proceed.

Other options had been explored before council approved the new plant last year, Councilman Jim Fox said. The utilities committee also has discussed the project at length, he said.

City officials maintained they did not have the time to do more research. The plant's daily average is nearing capacity, and the area continues to grow at about 500 households a year, Mayor John McCurley said.

"We have to do something within two years," he said.

Additionally, if council had not decided last week, the vote would have been postponed to Jan. 13, and that could have delayed the design work.

Also of concern are the millions already invested into the project. The new plant will sit on 24 of 102 acres the city bought in 2001 for nearly $3 million. The initial design of the plant, started last year, cost another $1.5 million.

"All the evidence is very, very clear that we are pushing against a deadline," Councilman Victor Kidd said.

The new plant is part of a long-term wastewater master plan approved in 1992 and updated in 1999.

Council has not discussed what will happen to the current plant, but Mr. Fox said parts of it might be reused in the new plant, which will be built less than a mile away.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com