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By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

Scioto County is in jeopardy of losing nearly $30 million for a Minford sewer project, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, if the project is not under construction or a contract is not signed for construction by July 31.

The Scioto County Commissioners accepted a letter Tuesday from the USDA Ohio office dated Jan. 30.

“We are concerned that your project has not advanced to the construction stage and that the Recovery (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds approved for your project may be in jeopardy if progress on your project is not made soon,” wrote J. Anthony Logan, USDA state director.

Scioto County Sanitary Engineer Joe Delong said the county is working on gaining easements to proceed with the project.

“We need 740 easements and we have 150 at this point,” Delong said. “We are hoping that people will be cooperative and know we are under the gun. This is quite a bit of money and we are never going to get this chance again. It would be nice if people would sign the easement agreements as soon as they can so we can get this project underway.”

Delong said for the project to proceed the county must have access to all the necessary easements.

The $29 million in funding is offered from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) through the USDA Rural Development through a $14,912,000 loan and a $14, 507,00 grant.

The project calls for the installation of 30 miles of sewer mains, a new wastewater treatment plant and other things.

The proposed project will provide sewage service to 1,327 existing homes along with modest growth capacity for the entire service area.

Logan also wrote that if the project is not under construction or under a contact for construction by July 31 a request could be made to the White House Office of Management & Budget for a waiver.

“The agency will consider making a request for a waiver to OMB with the information you provide. Waivers will be requested sparingly so the reason for delay must be well-documented and show extenuating circumstances,” Logan wrote.

“I was given no reason to believe that we would get away with it (an extension),” Delong said.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.