Sunday, August 29, 1999
Three counties seek state aid to pay for sewer
Alternate site more expensive
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — While opposing sides butt heads and play legal tag over placing a wastewater treatment plant in Belleview, three county judge-executives in Northern Kentucky are looking for a way to pay for a possible alternate site.
Leaders in Boone, Grant and Gallatin counties asked officials from the Sanitation District No. 1 in Northern Kentucky to analyze the cost of building a regional treatment plant at several sites near the Boone/Gallatin county line.
“If you look at a watershed map, several come together there,” said Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore. “It's a natural drainage area.”
It would also sponsor growth in the right place, he added.
“When you think about smart growth it puts the sewer system in a place that promotes growth where you want it,” Mr. Moore said.
And while all that points toward moving the plant, cost is still a hindrance.
According to the preliminary analysis the Sanitation District did on the five sites, the least expensive would be $15.5 million more than the Belleview site just to build. It would cost $7.8 million more to operate and maintain over a 20-year period.
The total additional cost for the least expensive site would be more than $20 million to locate the plant near the Boone/Gallatin county line rather than in Belleview.
“That tells me it's a long shot,” Mr. Moore said. “I do not expect the current rate-payers to incur the cost. We will try to come up with a way to raise the additional capital through grants.”
Grant County Judge-executive Darrell Link said the Department of Local Governments and the governor's office are pushing regionalism, and that the collaboration of the three counties in building a regional plant proves Northern Kentucky leaders are lis tening.
“We've been listening and we've been doing those things,” Mr. Link said. “Now, can we have some state assistance, some incentive money for doing exactly what you said?”
Sally Davis, the Northern Kentucky liaison to the governor's office, said she is helping the three look into whether the area would qualify for different types of grant money.
“I didn't give them a lot of hope for $20 million,” she said. “We're just going to have to look into it. ... I told them, "You don't give up until you've checked every avenue.'”
Bob Arnold, commissioner for the Department of Local Governments, said the first step for the counties is to substantiate the preliminary cost figures of the alternate site.
The department does offer block grants, but this project might not quali fy.
“Fifty-one percent of the people they were serving would have to be low- to moderate-income,” Mr. Arnold said.
Rural Development has a water and waste program that offers federal money through grants and loans, too, but also has certain guidelines. The area cannot have a corporate population greater than 10,000 to be eligible for a loan or grant. For grants, the income of the population is also considered.
“Loan dollars are usually easier to find than grant dollars,” said Vernon Brown, program director of rural utilities service for Rural Development.
There is another type of funding, however, that is not available now but may be during the next General Assembly, Mr. Arnold said.
Gov. Paul Patton appointed a water resource development commission in 1996, the sole purpose of which was to gather and map information that would lead to every household in the state having access to potable water by 2020.
That report should be ready by Oct. 15.
“We thought it was shortsighted to do just water and not sewer,” Mr. Arnold said. “We're also looking at that. Every small community does not need to have its own water treatment plant or sewer district.
“What we're going to say is, where it is feasible, regionalization is what needs to be encouraged.”
And encouraged with money to support such projects.
Gallatin County Judge-executive George Zubaty said a regional plant would be a good opportunity for many people in his county to get rid of their septic tanks.
“Most of them want it,” he said. “First off, it will improve the property values for them. ... It stands to reason that anytime you can get a group together to do it it's much better than doing it one at a time.”
Mr. Moore said he wanted to make clear that investigating an alternative does not mean progress will stop at the Belleview site.
“This is an option that's parallel with the Sanitation District moving on the Belleview site,” he said. “What we're doing here is not slowing that process. It gives us time to investigate.
“If it does not work out, if the funds are not obtained, then I believe we still have to move forward with the Sanitation District's plan.”
Mr. Moore is cautiously optimistic.
“I know that acquiring those kinds of funds is a long shot, but it's worth it for all of Boone County and I'm willing to give it all I've got,” he said.
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