New grant to trim cost of sewer work in Ravenna Township's Chinn Allotment

RAVENNA TWP. − Homeowners in the Chinn Allotment stand to save a little more money on a pricey sewer project in Ravenna Township, thanks to another grant toward the project.

Daniel Blakely, director of Portage County Water Resources, said the department applied for $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the Chinn Allotment, which he said would lower the cost by about $2,000 to each "benefit user." Residents now are facing a $16,000 assessment per lot, plus additional fees for things such as tying into the system.

Blakely noted that the residents are facing "significant" costs, and more grant funding is still being sought. Previously, he said, the county had amassed $6.5 million in grants toward the project, with the other $11 million being split between residents.

"It's still substantial, even with the funding that we do have," he said. "I think every little bit helps in this situation."

History of complaints

The Ohio EPA received a complaint in 2015 alleging failing septic and raw sewage entering "waters of the state" in the area of the Chinn Allotment, which contains nearly 300 homes in Ravenna Township.

Township residents Gary and Karen Hogan said they have been complaining about raw sewage in their yard since the 1980s, and their complaints only caught the EPA's attention when the state agency learned the sewage was finding its way to Breakneck Creek, which leads to the Cuyahoga River, and the water supply for the city of Akron.

The EPA's Northeast Ohio District Office collected bacteria samples that found E. coli levels "in exceedance of the public health nuisance standard," and discussed the findings with the Portage County Health District in 2016. The health district sent a formal complaint to the EPA in 2018, alleging that unsanitary conditions exist in the neighborhood. A resulting EPA order required the county to design, build and install a sewer system to serve the Chinn Allotment, and submit a plan to fund the improvements.

Portage County Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett previously said the board obeyed the order and directed Portage County Water Resources to design the system. But when initial designs first came back, the cost of the project, and the amount each resident would pay, was much higher − starting at $40,000 per lot. Commissioners directed Water Resources to go back to the drawing board to come up to a more affordable design.

But many residents there said the $16,000 cost per lot doubles or triples for many residents because they own multiple lots, which they say are not buildable.

Many residents at a recent neighborhood meeting said they're pursuing having their property replatted to lower their costs, which could increase the cost for the rest of the neighborhood.

Accepting the funding

Portage County commissioners said they were glad to hear that residents would be getting a break.

Commissioner Tony Badalamenti said the $2,000 break per resident will result in about a 10% cost reduction for some residents.

"It's better than nothing," Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett said.

Blakely said the department also applied for, and received, a $1 million grant for headworks and electrical issues at the Mantua Wastewater Treatment Plant. Such projects are typically pricey, he said.

"We're looking for anything to help us pay for these costs," he said.

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: New grant to trim cost of sewer work in Ravenna's Chinn Allotment