Friday, June 1st, 2007

Repeal of new state sewage rules opposed

By William Kincaid
The Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance is opposed to a recently introduced Ohio bill that would revert to the old on-site sewage treatment system (STS) laws prior to Jan. 1, 2007.
During the regular meeting on Thursday afternoon, GLWWA Coordinator Theresa May went over a letter she wrote to Ohio Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, on behalf of the GLWWA. The letter states "that there is a better option than rescinding the new sewage treatment laws" and offers two possible propositions.
The new STS laws, which became effective on Jan. 1, require an on-site, no discharge septic system. Although the current 4,000 private septic systems in Mercer County are supposed to adhere to the requirement, some may not, May told the newspaper.
May said the new laws require different systems that are more environmentally friendly. Those systems, in addition to more detailed soil investigation and engineering, would cost property owners up to $15,000.
Though the GLWWA is against reverting to the less rigid STS laws, its members feel the current laws could be altered.
"The new laws do require a higher expenditure for homeowners; therefore, our first proposed option is to provide financial assistance to homeowners needing to install a new system," she wrote in her letter. "In fact, the GLWWA has applied for a U.S. EPA Targeted Watersheds Grant which would allot over $200,000 to be used for a 50 percent cost-share assistance program for the replacement of approximately 30 STS's in the watershed."
In the letter, the GLWWA also proposes to modify the news STS laws instead of simply rescinding them.
"Keep the new rules in place, but review and modify them in a timely fashion," she wrote in her letter. "Additional design options could be presented that have been proven to be effective in the past. Could it also be considered to address individual soil types to evaluate the best system design for each type?"
During the meeting, May said the bill supporters are looking at the economic impact of the new law.
Lake Improvement Association representative Tom Rampe said rescinding the new laws is a step in the wrong direction.
In her letter, May also wrote "the Grand Lake/Wabash River Watershed has been defined by Ohio EPA as one of the most degraded watersheds in Ohio ... Replacement of failing STS's is a very important objective outlined in the Grand Lake/Wabash River Watershed Action Plan, and this objective will ultimately move us toward our goal of improved water quality in the watershed."
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Subscriber and paid stories on this date
MONTEZUMA - About 20 residents showed up Thursday night to hear details of a massive street, sidewalk and drainage project that is to get underway next month.
MINSTER - An ambitious plan by American Municipal Power-Ohio (AMP-Ohio) could provide three Auglaize County communities with reliable sources of electrical power at a lower cost, officials were told Wednesday.
American Municipal Power of Ohio (AMP-Ohio), started in 1971, owns and operates electric generation facilities such as the Richard H. Gorsuch coal-fired plant in Marietta as well as facilities dealing with transmission and distribution.
A former Trooper of the Year has been named the new commander of the Wapakoneta post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).
Lt. John Carrico, 38, begins his first day on the job today.
A Celina man has pleaded not guilty to rape and domestic violence in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
Scott A. Yenser, 30, 1200 Kensington Drive, remains incarcerated at the Mercer County Jail on a $750,000 bond awaiting a June 13 pretrial hearing.
St. Henry Village Council members this week went over the first reading of a resolution that would require 21 homeowners in the Osterholt/Eastview Subdivision to install sidewalks and driveway approaches.
St. Henry school officials awarded 99 diplomas to the graduating class of 2007 on May 27 at the high school.
Corey Knapke was named valedictorian, while Jessica Bruns was named salutatorian.
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ASHLAND - There's an old football coaching quote that goes "Offense sells tickets; Defense wins games."
No surprise that the saying rings true in football-crazy St. Marys.