Chickasaw seeks funds for water upgrades

CHICKASAW - Village officials are on the hunt for $2.5 million to replace the town's aging and inadequate water system.

The proposed project includes a new water treatment plant, storage area, water tower, well fields and new water lines, community leaders last week told Mercer County Commissioners.

The village has a 40,000-gallon water tower. Officials plan to build one with a 150,000-gallon capacity and include an option to expand to 240,000 gallons if needed to accommodate the community's growing industrial sector and new housing.

The proposed site for the project is on 55 acres of village-owned land, halfway between Chickasaw and Maria Stein, near the existing and new industrial parks. Officials at a village council meeting last week said they would like to start the project in early 2016.

Chickasaw Mayor Doug Huelsman, village public affairs president Al Lochtefeld and Marion Township Trustee Ron Bruns attended Tuesday's county commissioners' meeting with Roberta Acosta, senior rural development specialist for the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program.

Acosta said the meeting was held to garner support for the proposed project and obtain funding ideas. The group got both.

"We will do a letter of support," commissioner Jerry Laffin vowed, adding the board of commissioners would back funding applications submitted by the village.

Chickasaw officials were told by Jared Ebbing, the county's community development director, the village may be eligible for a critical infrastructure grant through the Community Development Block Grant program.

"But you have to exhaust all other opportunities for water and sewer (funds)," he said.

Ebbing said the village may be able to snag about $900,000 in grants through the CDBG program but should have specific work completed prior to applying.

"Do you have your design work ready?" he asked.

"We haven't yet started the engineering process," Acosta replied, adding Artesian of Pioneer will serve as design/builder and coordinator of funding applications and project scheduling.

Ebbing advised Acosta and village officials to get the engineering work completed as soon as possible to earn "points" toward the grant application.

Ebbing said his office has helped the villages of Mendon and Rockford obtain critical infrastructure grants and other economic development dollars for big projects like the one sought by Chickasaw.

Ebbing also suggested the village apply for county economic development dollars.

Acosta said the village won't qualify for certain CDBG money because some grants require 51 percent or more of residents to be in the low- to moderate-income range and/or have proof of a public health issue.

Chickasaw officials in August unsuccessfully applied for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant, Acosta told the newspaper. They also applied for funds - a grant, loan or combination of both of various amounts - through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program. The application is pending, she said.

Without additional funding, the project cost to the 140 residential and 12 industrial customers would be $62-$85 per month, Acosta said.

Acosta, who is assisting the village with the project at no cost, said there are serious concerns with the current 25-year-old "inefficient operating system."

"The primary concern is the condition of the existing plant, inadequate storage and lack of isolation distance around the village's current well," she said.

Acosta said the system struggles to meet current water demand and the EPA has repeatedly requested the village improve storage and develop a new well field.

Lochtefeld called the current system "over the hill."

"We have to go to a new water plant regardless" if the entire plan is implemented, Lochtefeld said. "I think this is the perfect time to make this happen but we need funding. We can't do this on our own."

Huelskamp said officials are exploring the possibility of including all of Marion Township in the project, not just the village.

"The (Marion Township) Fire Department has a big concern," he said, explaining inadequate water and water pressure could be devastating if a large fire occurs, particularly at the industrial parks.