Commissioners accept $2.5M bid for sewer improvements; OK Fayette Solar RUMA

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades took a major step toward the county’s planned sewer improvements at Rocky Fork Lake, as they awarded a $2.5 million bid for the first phase of the project during their Wednesday, April 26 meeting.

The commission voted 3-0 via resolution to award the Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project (Phase 1) bid to Doll Layman, Ltd., in the amount of $2,597,700.

The company submitted the lowest of five quotes received during a bid opening held March 8.

According to the project description, bids were to include “all labor, tools, equipment and materials necessary” for a number of improvements, including construction of two new secondary clarifiers; construction of new RAS/WAS pump station; replacement of up to four brush aerators in the oxidation ditches with new disc aerators; replacement of existing mixer with new mixer; construction of new flow splitter; demolition and utility relocation work; yard piping/valves; and electrical work.

Also approved, 3-0, was a resolution to direct a portion of the county’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund payment to the provision of government services to the extent of the county’s reduction in revenue resulting from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for the Rocky Fork Lake WWTP Improvements Project (Phase 1).

According to Britton, the county has agreed to dedicate $1.5 million in their federal coronavirus recovery funds toward the sewer improvements.

In May 2022, commissioners released their initial round of awards for American Rescue Plan Act expenditures, with the Rocky Fork plant receiving the most funding. At that time, the commission earmarked $1,450,000 for new clarifiers and mechanical screen for mixed liquor and another $340,000 to replace oxidation ditch aerators and Variable Frequency Drives, plus $454,100 for Rolling Acres WWTP improvements (replacing collection system mains).

In unrelated business, commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday to approve a Road Use Maintenance Agreement (RUMA) contract for Fayette Solar, in conjunction with the Highland County Engineer’s Office and Madison Township Trustees.

According to Chris Snider of National Grid Renewables and Highland County Engineer Chris Fauber, a few roads in Madison Township are affected by the RUMA, including New Martinsburg Road, East Martinsburg Road, a portion of Lovers Lane and possibly Bonner Road.

Britton asked Fauber if his office was “good with this,” and he said they were.

“It's the same language as the other ones,” Fauber said. “I’ve tried to make sure to keep them all consistent.”

Snider said that Madison Township Trustees have already “signed off” on the agreement as well.

“Most of the activity is actually going to be in Fayette County, and most of their loads will be coming in through Fayette County, but there is a little bit of work there at the corner of Lovers Lane and East Martinsburg to tie into the substation,” Fauber said.

Britton asked if an agreement had been reached with the Fayette County Engineer’s Office for their roads. Snider said they are still “working” with them.

“They’re requiring a little bit more stuff done [in Fayette County],” Fauber said. “Luckily, East Martinsburg was just paved last year, and Lovers Lane was just paid last year through the township grant, so our roads are in good shape. If something would happen, it would be pretty easy to get taken care of.”

As previously reported, Victoria Orchard of National Grid Renewables sent a copy of a qualified energy project (QEP) tax exemption application for Fayette Solar, LLC to commissioners earlier this month.

The project, which includes parcels in both Fayette and Highland counties (Madison Township area), is proposed as an “up to 47.5MW solar energy generating system,” according to the application. The substation would be in Highland County, “near the intersection of Lovers Lane and East Martinsburg Road,” the application says.

Although not discussed during the meeting, there was another solar-related issue listed in the correspondence portion of the agenda.

According to emails sent from the commissioners’ office, they did not “receive a payment or response” from the first payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) invoice for New Market Solar project, which was due last week.

As previously reported, commissioners voted to issue the first PILOT invoice for the New Market Solar project during their March 22 meeting.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve sending the letter and invoice to Liberty I Renewables - Hecate Energy for the first “service payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), including the additional annual service payment,” the letter says.

The New Market Solar project is “being permitted and constructed in two phases (35MW and 65 MW),” according to newmarketsolar.com. “Liberty acquired the 100 MW Project for Hecate Energy through a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (“MIPA”). Hecate Energy had developed and submitted a PJM queue position for 400 MW, which also included a 300 MW (non-Liberty Project) currently under development by D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (“DESRI”), which they name Highland Solar.”

The project is located in Clay and Whiteoak townships.

According to the commissioners’ letter, 24 MW are currently operational.

“As a result, Highland County intends to invoice,” commissioners wrote. “A total of $9,000 for each MW of nameplate capacity (100 MW) of the alternative energy facility is to be invoiced. Therefore, enclosed with this letter you will find the 2022 PILOT payment invoice.”

The first half-year payment of $450,000 was due April 20, according to the invoice.  

Commissioners have written to developers to seek “assistance with making sure this invoice gets to the right folks for further processing,” according to the email sent April 21.

In other discussion:

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Commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize the commission president to execute the 2023 Recycling and Litter Management Grant Program and the Highland County Recycling Outreach’s second quarterly payment.

Present for the vote was Highland County Community Action Organization Deputy Director Tara Campbell, who provided information on the annual grant as well as a quarterly update on the county’s recycling program.

“I submitted the annual county revolving fund recycling grant,” Campbell said. “We do it every year, and $4,500 is what's dedicated to that grant. In the past, we've split it up amongst different applicants around the county. It goes out to townships, villages and cities, as well as all the school districts.

“In the past, some of the projects have been community cleanup days, and some of the schools have implemented recycling into the buildings.”

Campbell added that grant applications are due June 1, and the grants are expected to be awarded later in June.

In other updates, Campbell said that a Lynchburg-Clay fifth grader named Sophia was selected as Highland County’s winner of the annual Ross-Pickaway-Highland-Fayette Solid Waste District creative drawing billboard design contest. Her design, featuring recycling symbols and a drawing of a pig and the earth, reads: “Don’t be a pig, recycle to keep our Earth clean!”

“Her billboard is up just on the other side of the bridge in Greenfield on 28,” Campbell said. “She gets a trophy and a gift card.”

Campbell said she has been working to promote “recycling and litter pickup” by speaking to local Boy Scout troops and 4-H clubs.

According to Campbell, some events planned for Highland County Recycling this year include:

— A prescription drug take-back, tattered flag disposal and shred event June 3 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Hillsboro Farmers Market (Highland County Courthouse square), cosponsored by the Highland County Veterans Service Commission, the VA and the Highland County Health Department.

— A hazardous waste recycling event Sept. 9 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Ross County Fairgrounds (open to Highland County residents).

— Highland County’s tire and electronics recycling day, Sept. 24 from 8 a.m.-noon at the North High Business Center parking lot.

“It’ll be five free car tires, same as in the past, and two free truck tires, and then every tire after that will have a price to it,” Campbell said.

Britton thanked Campbell for the information.

“We really appreciate what you’re doing there for us,” Britton said.

• Commissioners reviewed and accepted quotes for two separate projects.

First, commissioners voted 3-0 to accept a $3,750 quote from Ellis Fence Company to redo fencing on county property on Homestead Drive. Britton said that they are trying to accommodate space for a new, previously discussed storage building for the county maintenance department.

“When Sullivan [Supply] bought the old Turning Point, the chain-link fence ran to their edge of the property, that ran way past onto our property,” Britton said. “I went to Sullivan to talk to them about how they wanted to handle this.”

According to Britton, Sullivan representatives advised the county could take the fence “down to the back side to [their] property line, then just reconnect in, and that would get that area opened up.”

Britton said he had received two different options — one to “pull and reuse the old posts,” and one to “cut the old posts off and put new posts in.” He told the other two commissioners he recommended accepting the second option.

“The option two is to pull the old posts and reuse them and then restring a fence to close their area back,” Britton said. “We’re going to keep the existing fence for later use.”

Also approved was a $4,570 quote from Cornele Plumbing for a garbage disposal replacement, including labor and materials, at the Highland County Justice Center.

“We’ve had a garbage disposal that is nonrepairable at the Justice Center in the kitchen,” Britton said. “It's one of the commercial garbage disposals that needs replaced.”

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A transfer of funds from Child Enforcement, 2015 to Public Assistance, 2050 in the amount of $32,098.07 for January 2023 – March 2023 Child Support shared cost distribution.

• A transfer of funds from Children Services Special, 2115 to Public Assistance, 2050 in the amount of $34,792.47 for January 2023 – March 2023 Children Services shared cost distribution.

• A 2023 participation agreement contract with the County Risk Sharing Authority Inc. (CORSA).

• Two approvals from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control — one for a new liquor license for Carmel Market, LLC and one for a liquor license renewal for Rocky Road Sunoco — after receiving no public comment.

For more from Wednesday’s meeting, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-commission-village… and https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-commissioners-issu….