Village has new timeline

FORT RECOVERY — The village has about five years to meet new limits on testing wastewater.

Fort Recovery Village Council heard Monday from village administrator Randy Diller the village has received final approval on its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, effective March 1, that includes extensions for meeting new limits on phosphorus, ammonia and E. coli. The village is expected to meet the new limit for E. coli by January 2028, with limits for phosphorus and ammonia following by August 2028.

Fort Recovery was originally expected to meet the new limits within three years but requested more time while it reviews its options for future wastewater and water treatment.

Limits are based on average flow data collected from local watersheds. From there, the Environmental Protection Agency came up with limits to protect the river.

Currently the village is not required to meet limits for phosphorus, ammonia or E. coli. Under the new permit, it’s required to test twice a week during the summer months for each item.

The permit allows a weekly limit for E. coli of 284 colonies per 100 milliliters, or a monthly average of 126. (Testing in the village has ranged as high as 960 colonies per 100 milliliters to as low as 3.1 depending on the time of year.)

The permit extends through March 2028. It doesn’t list specific new limits for phosphorus or ammonia — they are not expected to be met until August 2028 — but officials have been told to expect weekly limits of 1.5 milligrams per liter or monthly averages of 1. (Testing in the village for phosphorus averages around 3 milligrams per liter, with testing for ammonia generally averaging around 8 or 9 milligrams per liter.)

The village received recommendations last year from Poggemeyer Design Group for a long-term wastewater treatment plan, which included a recommendation to construct a mechanical plant. (It currently uses a wastewater lagoon system.)

PMG Consulting also started conducting a study earlier this month on the water plant in order to make recommendations on other possible treatment processes. (Hopes are to move away from using lime and caustic soda because of their high cost.)

“What they want us to be doing between now and then is coming up with a plan and start implementing a plan how we’re going to be able to meet those (limits),” said Diller. “So we’ve got a little time, but we’re going to continue to move forward with some of the things we’re doing.”

Diller pointed out the wastewater department has started monitoring combined sewer overflows, which is required for the next three years per the permit.

Supervisory control and data acquisition equipment is being installed on pump stations and at the lagoons, allowing employees to monitor data remotely. Per Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requirements, the village is also implementing an asset management program that will tie into its geographic information system map. The program will help with organizing utility operations, such as managing assets and documenting maintenance.

Council also heard from mayor Dave Kaup that Fort Recovery Friends of the Arts has been selected for the annual Community Service Award, which will be celebrated along with other award winners during the Fort Recovery Chamber of Commerce awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. March 12.

Also Monday, Diller explained the village is not currently eligible for a grant through the Small Government Program offered by Ohio Public Works Commission. (It received a grant from the program a few years ago, meaning it will not be eligible until at least next year.) He explained the work officials hoped to do in the next year if it were awarded the grant may need to be split in half. They previously discussed using the funds toward reconstructing portions of Gwendolyn and Wiggs streets, estimated at $457,000, as well as reconstructing two blocks of Main Street and making some repairs to portions of Butler Street.

In other business, council members Greg Schmitz, Scott Pearson, Luke Knapke, Al Post, Cliff Wendel and Erik Fiely:

•Heard a conditional offer has been made to Haiden Stidam for the open second shift police officer position. The offer hinges on Stidam’s graduation from the police academy, slated for April, and his completion of other required testing.

•Learned a sign has been placed at the future site of the Sawyer Overman Ninja Park, an athletic course planned for a portion of ground near Fort Recovery Community Park. The land was recently donated for the project by Buzz and Pat Hull.

•Were reminded the village is hiring for upcoming seasonal positions such as Ambassador Pool employees.

•Learned the village’s tax incentive review council meets for its annual review of two tax abatements with J&M Manufacturing at 2 p.m. March 2.

•Heard the village has posted a 2006 Ford F-750 dump truck and a 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck on auction website GovDeals.com. Bids for both trucks close March 1.

•Authorized the annual Ohio Public Employees Retirement System conversion plan, which allows employees to convert vacation time into cash.