SALEM — The Salem Utilities Commission has approved the long-coming consent decree regarding the city’s phosphorus discharge levels.
The commission passed a motion authorizing Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson to sign the decree pending approval by City Law Director Brooke Zellers. The commission had planned to hear Zeller’s opinion on the decree and sign it during the meeting, however, Zellers was unable to attend as he was serving the city in court at the time.
Under the decree Salem will pay a $50,000 dollar fine for alleged violations levied by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The fine will be paid in two separate payments of $25,000 this year, based on when the document is signed and filed in court. This is a fraction of the cost of the original fines, which totaled $983,000.
The signing of the decree represents the close of nearly 20 years of negotiations as the phosphorus issue began in 2002 when the OEPA issued a renewal permit to the city which put a more stringent limit on the level of phosphorus the city could discharge into the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek from the wastewater treatment plant.
The Commission also approved a contract of $16,900 for Burgess & Niple Inc. To prepare the Industrial Local Limits Technical Justifications required for the city’s discharge permit. Hodgson said the document outlines limits of what chemicals and waste products such as phosphorus or grease that the city is able to process at the plant, providing the city with legal recourse to fine businesses for exceeding the limits to recoup the costs caused to the plant, or in extreme cases bring charges against them.
Other business included the commission amending two motions from their previous meeting, authorizing distribution general foreman Terry Endsley to purchase a new truck and a new mower. The changes to the previous motions increased the price limit for the purchases from $34,495 to $35,475 for the truck, and $29,000 to $32,614 for the mower. The amended motion for the purchase of the truck also authorizes the purchase of a full-size truck, rather than the half-size vehicle previously approved. A full-size vehicle was ordered through Stratton Chevrolet as it was impossible to acquire a half-size vehicle before the year’s end, and the new truck will be red to match the bulk of the department’s vehicles.
In other business, the commission heard updates on the Phase 3 wastewater treatment plant project and Phase 1 water treatment plant improvements, with the wastewater treatment plant project expected to begin bidding in September. Hodgson also asked for confirmation that the East Cold Run Reservoir rip-rap project was on schedule, it being confirmed that the department had until February 2024 to complete the repairs.
Hodgson thanked City Service-Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello for all he has done working with the department for the last several years.
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