WARREN - Replacing broken or faulty septic systems with sewers in a part of Kinsman will cost residents who are part of the work $30.38 a month over the next 20 years to pay off the project's debt, plus a one-time fee of $1,800 to connect to the system.
In addition, residents will be charged $39.94 a month for the new sewer bill and a $2 replacement and improvement fee, said Rex Fee, executive director of the county Sanitary Engineer's Office.
''As far as the cost to pay off the debt, that's a heck of deal. We really worked hard to put that package together to get it to the $30 threshold,'' Fee said.
Funding for the $10 million second part of the project took years to align and included much negotiation and wrangling between the county's and Ohio's heaviest political officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a loan / grant package to get the project affordable for residents, he said.
Low-to-moderate-income residents can seek help with the cost of the connection fee, construction of sewer lateral and an inspection fee. In addition, low-to-moderate-income households have the option of putting the connection fee on their property taxes over five years at a cost of $370.80 a year, which includes a small fee.
Financial assistance applications are available by calling the county Planning Commission at 330-675-2480.
Sewers are necessary because the area in 2007 was identified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as being a potential health risk because of the malfunctioning or non-working septic systems.
Part one took a treatment plant at the former Kraft Cheese plant near the intersection of state Routes 5 and 7 and converted it into a municipal sewage plant large enough to accommodate 25,000 gallons a waste a day.
Part two is to install the sewers and upgrade the plant to handle 125,000 gallons of waste a day because of the new connections - 336 single-family homes, businesses and other buildings.