Airing concerns

FORT RECOVERY — Local residents say the lagoons still stink.

They asked the village Monday to keep them updated on progress aimed at fixing the issue.

Fort Recovery Village Council heard again from Wabash Road homeowners frustrated about the recurring smell emanating from the village’s wastewater lagoons.

Connor Rammel noted the group has approached council in years past about the problem, which he pointed out has also impacted others in the village. 

“I keep seeing reports of, the numbers are getting better, they’re improving, things are in range, but the numbers don’t make any difference because it still smells,” he said.

Rammel asked for an update regarding the village’s plan.

Village administrator Randy Diller explained the village conducted a wastewater study, which suggested a long-term solution for the village’s wastewater needs. The corresponding project — constructing a mechanical plant for wastewater treatment — would cost anywhere from $8 million to $12 million.

“(That) isn’t very feasible for us to take on unless there’s some sort of funding source (available),” he said.

An alternative short-term solution, dredging the lagoons in order to remove the sludge buildup, is estimated at $842,250. The village recently submitted an application to the Ohio Department of Development’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides dollars to “improve access to clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure,” according to its website.

If funded, Diller said, the dredging process could happen this year.

One resident asked about the last time the lagoons had been dredged, with Diller explaining the lagoons have never been dredged since they were first created in the 1971.

Diller noted dredging won’t solve the other issue the village is currently facing, which is meeting Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s upcoming limits for phosphorus, ammonia and E. coli levels in wastewater. 

Currently, the village is not required to meet limits for phosphorus, ammonia or E. coli. The village is expected to meet the new limit for E. coli — 284 colonies per 100 milliliters, or a monthly average of 126 — by January 2028, and limits for phosphorus and ammonia — officials expect weekly limits of 1.5 milligrams per liter or monthly averages of 1 — by August 2028.

One solution would be to convert to a mechanical plant. Diller said he’s looking into a more cost-effective potential solution offered by Lemna Environmental Technologies, a Minnesota company that has suggested a process that would utilize the wastewater lagoons while adding in some mechanical aspects. The project is estimated at $1 million to $2 million.

In the meantime, Kainos Ag will be applying products to the wastewater lagoons in an attempt to help with the smell.

Rammel said the company’s products have not eradicated the smell from the lagoons.

Wastewater lagoons usually have a smell when they “flip over” as the weather changes, noted Diller. With the village’s 6-foot “shallow” ponds, he continued, they may “flip over” multiple times when the weather constantly fluctuates.

Lemna Environmental Technologies’ potential solution would include deepening the lagoons by another 6 feet. Part of its solution also involves covering the lagoons throughout the winter, he said, keeping the water temperature at 50 degrees and preventing the lagoons from “flipping over.”

Rammel asked if the village would be setting up a standard moving forward in relation to dredging the lagoons. Lemna Environmental Technologies’ process, Diller said, would involve monitoring the sludge.

Rammel and others at the meeting asked Diller to keep them updated on information regarding the wastewater lagoons moving forward.

“I think what we’re trying to get after here is just open communication,” he said.

Also Monday, village council authorized an application for Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Funding.

If awarded, the village will be conducting several infrastructure projects, which include building a crosswalk in front of Fort Recovery High School along First Street, improving visibility of markings at the five-point intersection of Butler, Boundary, William and Third streets, and constructing a sidewalk from Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School to Sharpsburg Road to match with the upcoming sidewalk project for the front of the school. The infrastructure projects would be 100% covered by the grant.

As required for the funding, Fort Recovery created its School Transportation Plan in July after a nine-month planning process with school, community, local government, health, public safety and other representatives. The plan identifies several construction projects and new programs as goals for increasing safe pedestrian and bike travel to school.

Council also heard mayor Dave Kaup is hosting an informational meeting at 1 p.m. March 9 in the community room at Fort Recovery High School to discuss recent increases to real estate taxes and to answer questions about tax assessments, how taxes are calculated, how tax money recipients are impacted and where the funds are spent. Kaup asked residents to call the village at (419) 375-2530 or email [email protected] if they plan on attending in order to make sure the venue size will be adequate.

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

•Authorized a contract with utility aggregation group Priority Power Management. The company purchased Affordable Gas and Electric, which has had an agreement with the village for several years regarding aggregation programs.

•Learned Kaup has selected Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters Club as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Community Service Award through Fort Recovery Chamber of Commerce. (See related story.)