Residents turn out to hear about towns past,
present and future projects
By William Kincaid as printed in the Daily Standard
ROCKFORD-The village may expand its wastewater treatment plant in the future, Village Administrator Jeff Long says.
Long spoke to more than 50 village residents who met at the Rockford Community Building on Thursday evening to learn about the village’s past, present and future projects. Long said was a night to inform the village about how their money is being spent.
“We’re always looking forward to the citizens and what they have to say,” Long said. He also invited all village members to attend regular council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at village hall.
Thursday night was the first time the city’s administration has talked about expanding the village’s wastewater treatment plant.
“We’re trying to plan ahead,” Long said.
Long said such an endeavor is in the early stages of a feasibility study. He said Ohio is developing an economic stimulus program that could help the village finance such an expansion in the future.
“They’re (Ohio officials) going to throw a lot of money at infrastructure,” he said about the Ohio Public Works Commission, although it has not decided yet how future money will be allocated. “So we’re trying to get in right away.”
On Tuesday evening, Long, village council members and Brice Schmitmeyer –went over a slew of ongoing and forth coming projects that will improve infrastructure and possibly attract future business.
The new water treatment plan— which has been in the works for a few years now – should be bid out by the end of this year with construction starting sometime in 2009, Schmitmeyer said. The plant, to be constructed at the old Parkway School site, will have a maximum capacity of 420,000 gallons per day, compared to the current plant and its capacity of 280,00 gallons per day.
“This plan will be a conventional plant much like the one we have,” Long said.
Schmitmeyer said renovation of the current plant was explore, but the cost of restoring the filters and other equipment would have cost almost as much as new equipment.
“You’re going to save that money in a matter of 10 to 15 years,” he said about the plant, that was last estimated to cost around $2 million.
The plant – to be paid for through a USDA Rural Development grant of $800,000, a $1.7 million low interest loan and possibly, a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Rockford, according to Long, will not have to make any payments until two years after construction is complete. He said the village will probably pursue a 40-year loan.
The project will include water meters, which have never been used before in Rockford. Instead of paying a flat fee for unlimited water, villagers would pay according to how much water they use.
“I really believe when we get meters in there’s going to be conservation,” he said.
The village is also increasing in size and installing new infrastructure that will benefit current residents and businesses, as well as any future development.
Recently, over 80 acres of land was annexed to the village, those attending the meeting were told. In the future a 12 –inch water line from the Columbia Street water tower to Franklin Street, and north to Bridge Street and west to the corporation limit will be installed. Also, a 12-inch water line from Columbia Street water tower west to Holly Lane will be installed.
Long said such infrastructure will be ready if a business development decides to come to town. “Entrepreneurship is our best hope,” Long said. “A bunch of small one will help us out.”
