Franklin General Authority chairman Tim Dunkle revealed staggering costs for upcoming projects that will affect Sugarcreek Borough in a report given to borough council Wednesday.
Dunkle began his address to council by detailing the $4 million project the authority will be embarking on to replace all city sewer lines in an area near the 15th Street watershed.
The 15th Street project, along with another project, A108, were brought to the authority’s attention after a fine was handed down by the Department of Environmental Protection for sewer overflows in 2015.
EADS finished its study, which showed much of the city’s overflow problems come from inflow and infiltration – water from storm drains, ground water and residential down spouts connected into the sewer – earlier this year, but the engineers are continuing to study A108.
Dunkle said it is very likely the A108 study will show the same results as 15th Street, which will mean a vast project with an even larger budget.
“This will be a four or five project remedy,” said Dunkle. “Each project will cost the same as 15th Street.”
Dunkle said that while the project will be done in phases, that is still about $20 million in the “next few years.”
Because the A108 watershed includes areas of Rocky Grove and the Miller-Sibley Recreation Complex, some of these expenses may fall to Sugarcreek Borough, Dunkle said.
In other business Wednesday, borough solicitor Brian Spaid reminded borough residents about property maintenance codes.
“It’s the time of the year when snow melts and grass grows and trash becomes visible,” he said.
Spaid said that while no issues have come about with the borough’s current property maintenance codes that were put in place six to eight years ago, borough properties don’t lack issues.
“(Zoning code enforcement) will be around to enforce the maintenance property codes,” Spaid warned.
Council president Bogan Goughler praised zoning code enforcer Larry Moyer for his quick action any time a complaint against a property is lodged.
“It’s called due process,” Spaid said.
Police chief Bob Wenner said he and the department would work with Moyer whenever necessary, and Wenner said during his report to council that getting out more often in the community is one of his top priorities.
Wenner said recent efforts to do so have already shown in the number of traffic citations handed out, which he said rose from 56 in February to 93 in March.
Later in his report, Wenner announced to council that Sugarcreek police officer Lt. Darin Baker had been presented with a certificate of commendation by state Sen. Scott Hutchinson.
The certificate recognized Baker for his efforts to address aggressive driving.
Baker was selected from among officers nominated by local police chiefs.
