SOURCE: The Daily Jeffersonian
DATE: March 29, 2018
AUTHOR: John Lowe
BYESVILLE — Village Council made it official Wednesday when members formally agreed to extend — at no cost to the village taxpayers — water and wastewater services to the proposed Guernsey Power Station.
Work to extend the water line will begin almost immediately — definitely within the next two weeks, Administrator Brennan Dudley said.
“The goal is to have it done by June 1,” he said.
However, the work to extend the wastewater line will take about 30 months from the time the developers give the village notice to proceed, he said. Why the difference?
The distance from the nearest existing water line (along Marietta Road) to the power station site is only 2,500 feet.
However, no existing wastewater line is near the power station. So, one will have to be constructed all of the way from the wastewater plant, Dudley said.
The cost of extending the water line will tally about $160,000, but the cost of extending the wastewater line is expected to total about $2.8 million.
Villagers need not worry, though, because the developers are picking up the tab, according to the terms of agreement signed Wednesday evening.
“All of the infrastructure costs would be reimbursed,” Dudley said. “If we incur any debt, they would be responsible for paying it.”
The power station will receive no special deals for utilities to the plant.
“They are receiving no special rate for water or sewer,” Dudley said.
The plant will be charged the same rate as other commercial or industrial users such as the Colgate-Palmolive plant.
The initial term of the agreement is 20 years, but is renewable.
Among other action, council:
- Adopted a pair of ordinances adjusting the salaries of the administrator and police chief and the wages of the police officers, the utility clerk and the income tax clerk.
- Applauded the accomplishments of the Meadowbrook boys basketball team, to which Mayor Jay Jackson gave a congratulatory proclamation. The team also received a proclamation from Gov. John Kasich and Assistant Gov. Mary Taylor and from Congressman Bill Johnson.
- Heard a presentation on the Ohio Checkbook program from representatives of State Treasurer Josh Mandel.
Convened in executive session for personnel and contractual reasons.