ENGINEERING REPORT … Williams County Commissioners Brian Davis and Lew Hilkert met on Thursday, January 27, 2022 with WC Engineer Todd Roth and two of his staff, Cody Frey and Toby Rupp. Clerk Anne Retcher was present for the minutes. (PHOTOS BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The Thursday morning, January 27, 2022 meeting of the Williams County Commissioners began with the following approvals:
- Resolution 44 Transfer on behalf of Commissioners, EMS and Sanitary Engineer
- Resolution 45 Entering into an agreement with MVPO for a proposal and cost estimate and professional service agreement for the Renovation Asbestos Assessment and VAP Phase 1ESA for ODOD Grant. Cost will not exceed $7,500, and term is effective upon date of signing and continues until testing is complete.
- Resolution 46 Entering in a Memorandum of Agreement. On January 26, Vicki Blair, Contract and Procurement Specialist from JFS submitted between WC Child Support Enforcement Agency and JFS for the purpose of authorizing CDJFS administrative staff to access to federal tax information to assist the CSEA in carrying out functions of the Child Support Program at no cost.
- Resolution 47 Apryl McClaine from EMA submitted agreements between Michael Frey and WC LEPC for hazard analysis of all the companies in the county that report their Tier II Reports to EPA and LEPC. Total Cost is not to exceed $1792 and the term is February – December 2022.
- Resolution 48 Todd Roth submitted a 2023 Western Star Purchase Agreement between Stoops Western Star of Ohio and Kalida Truck Equipment and WC Engineer for the purchase of a Western Star Truck, and Kalida Body and Equipment at a cost not to exceed $212,707, term within 2022.
- Resolution 49 Entering into an ODOT LPA project agreement between State of Ohio Department of Transportation and the Engineer’s Office. Total project cost is $1,627,000 and ODOT will fund 80% with the remainder from A&G funds for resurfacing of County Rd. D and County Rd. 12/C. Project to be completed in 2023.
- Resolution 50 Approving the use of ARP local fiscal recovery funds in the amount of $139,035.36 to support government services eligible with revenue loss. WC IT has submitted various quotes that equal that amount for approval to be paid.
- Also signed: Monthly expenditures for Credit Cards for the month of February for the Commissioners office; Dog Warden weekly report for the week of January 17-23, 2022
- Minutes for January 24, 2022 and payment of bills
Following a recess, the commissioners met with County Engineer Todd Roth and staff members Cody Frey and Toby Rupp. Roth went over the rate forecast and a list of long-range items that need care.
During 2021 the big project was Kunkle and the funding for that was 4.5 million, paid for 100% by six funding sources.
The houses are all in service and the first bills, for $45 per home, will be going out on February 1 for January service. Commissioner Lew Hilkert thanked Frey for all he did to make that project so successful.
The department expenses for 2021 were $545,000 with revenues slightly higher. The department has two full time employees in the field that take care of all the calls and they “do a good job of keeping things running and maintained.”
Roth did inform the commissioners that he wants to hire a third person as it is getting harder for two people to cover all the needs of the county.
Roth stated that the next big project for which they are planning to pursue funding in every way possible, is Alvordton. The plan is to do what they did for Kunkle, and to find the funding to pay 100% of the cost.
Alvordton residents will have a $45 a month bill when it is done just like Kunkle residents do now. It will take time so this project is “a few years out by the time we get the plans done, get funding secured, permits in hand, etc.”
Another project for the long range list is for the Bona Vesta and Hallocks systems to possibly have their own plant so that the county can stop paying the Bryan rates for those homes.
Commissioner Brian Davis said that conversations have been held about this in the past and he has advocated, “with the increased costs in utilizing the City of Bryan it has just become cost prohibitive.”
It was agreed during discussion that this does need to be taken care of at some point and Clerk Anne Retcher was asked to schedule a “work session in Roth’s office with the commissioners” to discuss details.
An immediate need, Roth said, is Hickory Hills, an area that only has eleven homes but has had a notice of violation for its sewer plant. Other places he mentioned were Lakeland Woods and a number of pump stations in need of repair.
Roth said he is hoping for ARPA funds to cover the Hickory Hills plant as it is going to run around $400,000. There was some discussion of other possible funding.
Hilkert asked for a meeting to discuss this project as well, with MVPO Dennis Miller in attendance.
Roth also explained a Rate Chart which Frey has made up for them to see where all the money is going in the county sewer systems. They discussed annualized debt service payment, usage revenues, loss and the thought that people think they make money with the sewer system.
“We do not,” Roth said. “Sewer systems are not set up to make money. The rate payers have to pay those bills, so all you do is try to keep the rate as low as possible.
So that means you just try to break even as best you can. It is not a money maker for the county.” He recommended that it be held at $45 for a couple years.
The situation for the county with the Blue Sewer System that takes care of six homes, came up next and Roth said that he has approached the Village of Montpelier to take over that system.
The county has agreed to pay them $5000 to take it over and make it part of their system so the county will stop losing money from that area.
It was agreed that they need a work session to review and discuss further all the items Roth brought to this meeting. With no further business that day, the meeting adjourned.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
