Columbiana County expands septic repair program | News, Sports, Jobs

LISBON – Even more Columbiana County residents with failing sewer systems and a lack of income to replace them will receive assistance this year through programs with the Columbiana County General Health District.

The county’s health commissioner Wes Vins told the board this week that the health department learned that not only would it receive the $ 150,000 it normally receives from the water pollution control loan fund, but the department will as well another $ 150,000 through an H2O Ohio grant program.

Vins said he got a call and learned that Columbiana County is one of eleven counties selected in the state, largely because the county is so good with all of the money he’s received through the WPCLF program over many years Has done work.

Those who qualify financially can get assistance in replacing a faulty sewer system on their property. The health department assists in identifying properties where the systems need replacing, often through complaints. The resident then receives a package and can apply to qualify. In the past, the health department went through the community action agency, but Vins said there will be another agency in charge of reviewing the financial situation of those seeking help, which will be determined in the future.

Using the dollars through the WPCLF and now the H2O Ohio program, the county health department is offering the projects so local contractors certified as replacements for wastewater treatment plants have the chance to win the contract. During the meeting, the health department announced it would offer a group of projects, with the money left over from the 2020-2021 funding year. Then they offer two more groups of projects that will use money from 2021 to 2022.

In other matters:

The board passed a board resolution against Ernest Lautzenheiser, the owner of the property at 11232 State Route 9 in Kensington, who, according to Environment Director Lori Barnes, has been identified with solid waste, tires and water-containing openings. The owner has reportedly not cooperated with requests from the health department to clean up the property.

– Medical services administrator Jamie Elenz said the department still has some Johnson and Johnson vaccines in the fridge and is just waiting for instructions on when or how to use them. You and board member Dr. Kimberly Jackson discussed the reason for the vaccine interruption due to severe blood clots that developed in six women out of millions of people who received it.

The break was canceled late on Friday.

– Also on Friday, the health department had around 750 people come through the vaccination complex on the district’s exhibition grounds, mainly to receive their second dose of Moderna vaccine. Another second dose clinic is expected to be held at the exhibition grounds on April 30th. In the meantime, 32,027 residents of the district have started at least their vaccinations, 25,593 have completed them, or more than 25 percent of the 101,000 residents of the district.

In the past week, since April 16, there have been 72 new coronavirus cases, or just over 10 a day on average. That’s fewer than the 128 new cases the week before.

The county has also added a new fatality leaving the county at 227, although the graph shows no deaths in Columbiana County since March 30th.

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