Commissioners Angry With Columbus Over Funding

MARIETTA, OH — Painful as it may be for some, the county commissioners are moving forward with the Washington County Sewer Fund AKA the Devola Sewer Fund.

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Washington County Commissioner James Booth said that construction will not be able to begin this summer. He said this is due to the roughly $1,000,000 award from the Army Corps of Engineers. “Their award doesn’t start until September.” This means construction won’t be able to begin until May or June of 2022.

Funding has been the major point of contention in this project. The commissioners are looking at a court order mandating that the county sewer Devola. This is a $15,000,000 project, and commissioners are looking to get funding from any source available. The thought is that county residents will have to pick up the tab for whatever they don't get covered.

Some big news just dropped from Columbus and the Washington County Commissioners are not happy about it.

President of the Washington County Commissioners Kevin Ritter reiterated that the county is working with a group called Sunday Creek Horizons. They are a strategic consulting firm that has been enlisted to help find funds for this sewer project. “I got a disappointing update from them last night. There’s a list that has come out of the governor’s office for shovel-ready water and sewer projects.” The Washington County Sewer Project wasn’t on that list.

So Ritter immediately contacted Ohio Representatives Jay Edwards and Don Jones about why Washington County’s project isn’t being considered.

Commissioner Charlie Schilling said he feels like Edwards and Jones are on their side, but they want results. “If we do not get any money for this project, yet the governor can put up $5,000,000 for a vaccine lottery, then you’re going to see the three people sitting up here rattling some cages in Columbus.”

Booth said he’d also like to urge the state leaders “I.E. [Governor] DeWine, Lieutenant Governor John Husted, to help the county residents to pay for this sewer to the extent they can.”

“I’m tired of Southeast Ohio being overlooked and forgotten when monies are dolled out from Columbus.” Ritter said he’s looked at the projects funded by Columbus over the last 5 years. “A wildly disproportionate number of projects and amount of money is going to Franklin County and a couple of other counties.” He said he’s sick of this.

Commissioner Booth also said that if the governor can give out 5-million-dollars for a vaccine lottery, “He can help out the people of Washington County.”

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