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Palestine to pay $8K to satisfy EPA

EAST PALESTINE — The village has reached a settlement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for violations related to the sanitary sewer system and will only have to pay $8,000 in penalties.

The village was notified by the EPA in March that it was in violation of state water pollution control laws because of overflows into homes in portions of the village during periods of heavy rain, and also for failing to abide by a schedule handed down by the EPA in 2011 to correct the problem.

At that time EPA Director Craig Butler warned the village of a proposed civil penalty of $126,069 for the violations. He did say that all but $10,000 could be suspended if the village met new deadlines for correcting the problem.

Over the summer the village sought absolute forgiveness of the $10,000 fine. The village was notified recently by the EPA that it would only have to pay $8,000.

Acting Mayor Alan Cohen said he is pleased with the settlement, noting that the village was originally obligated to pay $10,00 and still had the $126,069 “hanging over our head.” Now that is gone, he explained.

According to the settlement, the village must pay $2,000 by Jan. 1, another $2,000 by April 1, another $2,000 by July 1, and the final $2,000 by Oct. 1.

As for correcting the problem, the village is currently in the midst of a nearly $6 million project to construct a million-gallon equalization basin (or storage tank) and replacement of the siphon.

The EPA’s new deadlines for the project are that the village must submit and have the EPA approve a permit to install the tank by Jan. 7 of 2019, begin construction by Sept. 1 of 2019, and complete the project by Oct. 3, 2020.

Council last its meeting last week approved a motion to accept the EPA’s findings and orders.

On a somewhat related matter, Councilman Brett Todd, who is chairman of the utility committee, said that the public needs to be aware that the village’s sanitary sewer system project and separate water project are not related to a potential Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) with Unity Township.

He said some people were under the impression that the village was pursuing the projects as part of a JEDD, and that is not the case.

The village is currently in talks with the township about a JEDD, but nothing has been decided at this point.

Monteleone said a draft agreement has been provided to the township’s attorney to go over. The agreement would need approval from both the village and the township in order to create the district.

In a JEDD the village would provide the township with infrastructure needed for economic development while receiving taxes levied without having to annex property. The township could still collect property taxes and receive municipal water. The JEDD Would not involve police protection, however.

Todd and other village officials stressed that the sanitary sewer and water projects under way are to correct problems in those systems to provide better service for residents only and have nothing to do with the township.

The village has approved increasing rates in the past to help fund the projects.

The water project is roughly $1.06 million and consists of expanding and renovating the existing pump house and the addition of a new well.

In other business, council approved:

— A motion to pay the salary of the village manager from the general fund, water and sewer funds, with 33 percent coming from the general fund, 33 percent from the water fund and 44 percent from the sewer fund. Dividing the salary among the funds is recommended by the Auditor of State; and paying the salary of the finance director from the general fund, water and sewer funds, with 46 percent coming from the general fund, and 27 percent each from the water and sewer funds.

— An ordinance setting 2019 appropriations.

— Giving a second reading to an ordinance establishing the law director’s contract for 2019.

The next meeting was set for 7 p.m. Dec. 27.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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