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Norton residents face off with city on sewer project

7/5/2012 - West Side Leader
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By Emily Chesnic

About 200 Norton residents filled the Shirley McGuire Community Center July 2 to get their questions answered concerning a sanitary sewer project that would begin in October, if approved by City Council. Shown above, resident Ed Miller expresses to city officials why he opposes the project.
Norton Administrative Officer Rick Ryland addresses the crowd at the special Council meeting, telling residents the city wants to eliminate all illicit discharges, and to do so, everyone must be part of the city’s sewer system.
Photos: Emily Chesnic
NORTON — Gregory Smith, of Norton, would like Norton officials and residents to unite to find an acceptable way to address contaminated runoff coming from certain areas.

Both parties, however, did not come to an agreement July 2, when a special meeting of City Council was held solely so residents could voice their concerns about a proposed sanitary sewer project.

Close to 200 people packed the Shirley McGuire Community Center to get their questions answered, with some waiting more than two hours for their turn to speak.

City officials would like to see construction begin in October on the installation of sanitary sewer lines in the Nash Heights subdivision but at the expense of the homeowners, leaving many anxious and angry about what lies ahead for their pocketbooks and properties.

Norton Administrative Officer Rick Ryland told the crowd the city is required by law to follow the rules and regulations of the Federal Clean Water Act established in 1972.

“If the city is found to have high bacteria counts within our outfalls, the city is required to correct that, and it’s the suggestion of the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] to correct that with sanitary sewers,” he said.

He explained the city is required to find and eliminate any contaminated discharge that goes into streams, creeks and back into the ground — possibly impacting well water — and if it doesn’t, legal action against the city could be taken.

Ryland said numerous homes in the city have septic tanks that flow to a ditch and that is illegal discharge.

In 2009, city officials received two letters from the EPA stating they are in violation of the current mandates for runoff, after water-quality testing was performed, and a solution must be found, he said.

Ryland said the EPA told the city in 2009 that about 70 percent of homes in Norton had a failing home sewage treatment system, and a plan to rectify the issue must be implemented or the city could face fines.

“We have to address these issues. It is something we have to do,” he said. “Sanitary sewers are a way to do that. There is not another alternative.”

Ryland stated Council approved a master plan in 1997 to have sewers put in for the entire city, so residents should not be surprised officials are moving forward with plans.

Residents questioned, without getting an answer, though, why the city did not begin setting money aside at that time to help those on a fixed income pay for their portion of the project.

Ryland estimated the project could cost a homeowner about $13,000 for the sewer lines, depending on his or her frontage, but the cost would be assessed on taxes for a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of 30 years, with a fixed interest rate close to 4 percent.

However, many residents explained their financial situations during the meeting and expressed fear that they would not be able to pay their portion of the project costs, including up-front costs, as well as the sewer bills they would begin to receive after the project is finished.

Ryland said the city is “aggressively applying for anything and all” that could assist residents in paying for the project.

Resident David France told city officials he was disappointed to find out, however, the city did not receive stimulus money recently made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He questioned if the city even applied for financial aid. France pointed out Barberton received $3.5 million and Wadsworth more than $6 million in stimulus funds for similar sewer projects. He wanted to know how many applications were sent by the city for stimulus dollars to go toward the proposed sewer project.

“I can’t answer that,” Ryland said.

Several residents asked the city to consider just fixing the septic systems responsible for the contamination, reminding officials that on-site elimination is acceptable by the EPA.

Ryland agreed but said the lot dimensions of most of the 326 parcels located in Nash Heights are not large enough for on-site elimination, which led to the recommendation to install the sewer system.

“We don’t have another option,” he said.

Some people who recently paid anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 to bring their septic systems up to code told city officials it is not fair to make them pay to connect to the sewer system.

Ryland said, though, the city wants to eliminate all illicit discharges, and to do so, everyone must be part of the city’s sewer system.

It did not take long for people to begin shouting at city officials in frustration, with some accusing the administration and Council of corruption.

“I see everyone here and I don’t know how we are going to make our community one again,” said resident Bill Ray. “There is a lot of hatred now, a lot of bitterness. We have to do this in such a way to not create more problems in the community. Everyone needs to feel like they have a voice. I am against the sewer myself, but I still want to hear both sides before I have to pay for it.”

Before the meeting’s close, more residents stood up asking, some begging, for city officials to try again to find another way to resolve the situation with the EPA.

“I am glad we had this kind of turnout tonight,” Smith said. “I just wish we could work together to rectify the problem.”

To contact the city regarding the sewer issue, call 330-825-7815.

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