Village will do more testing

Fort Recovery is looking into an alternative way to treat its wastewater in the future.

Village administrator Randy Diller explained to Fort Recovery Village Council on Monday plans are to move forward with additional testing for Lemna Environmental Technologies.

OEPA’s upcoming limits for phosphorus, ammonia and E. coli levels in wastewater are unobtainable currently with the village’s wastewater lagoons. A wastewater study completed in recent years suggested a long-term solution for the village to meet those requirements would be to construct a mechanical plant, a project expected to cost anywhere from $8 million to $12 million.

Lemna Environmental Technologies’ strategy utilizes wastewater lagoons while adding in some mechanical aspects. Diller noted he met with engineering consultant agency Kleinfelder and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on Monday. He explained the state department is receptive to working with Lemna Environmental Technologies — he said more and more Ohio communities are taking interest in the Minnesota company — to test its strategy for treating wastewater and meeting requirements. 

Regardless, the village still needs to make sure the treatment fits within its needs.

“I told them I don’t want to go into this just because it’ll fit our needs right now, I need it to fit our needs for 20 years from now, maybe 30 years from now,” said Diller.

He added the village will need to update its wastewater plan submitted to OEPA. (It currently lists plans to build and begin treating wastewater with a mechanical plant.)

Also Monday, council decided to meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 prior to their regular meeting to discuss a request for a zoning map amendment from Brandon and Amanda Wyerick for their property at 105 S. Elm St. They are utilizing the former church for their event center, Elm and Ivy, and hope to adjust the property from an R1 to C1 district per the zoning map.

Fort Recovery Planning Commission recently recommended council deny the map amendment but make a zoning text amendment to add a conditional use to the residential district, allowing for an event center on a conditional use with the requirement that it must abut a commercial district, explained Diller. (Elm and Ivy does meet that requirement.)

Planning commission also recommended making changes to the C1 central commercial district, explained Diller, prohibiting first floor residential use in a commercial building.

Diller pointed out Fort Recovery’s last zoning text amendment was made in 2021, and the last map amendment was made in 2016.

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

•Authorized Ohio Department of Transportation to complete sidewalk and curb ramps within the village. (Plans are in the works to install sidewalk along the east side of Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School and connect it to Sharpsburg Road. The project is partially funded through the Safe Routes to School grant funding program.)

•Transferred $2,431.18 from the police grant reimbursement fund to the general fund, with fiscal officer Roberta Staugler explaining the money is used to pay for police trainings.

•Formally authorized village officers and employees on a third reading to spend additional village funds on amenities. The resolution allows village officers and employees to spend up to $200 per occurrence on amenities.

•Approved the 2025 wage ordinance on a third reading.