BROOKVILLE — Council approved a resolution giving city manager Sonja Keaton authorization to apply for, accept and enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan fund agreement for the construction of the Market Street sanitary sewer extension project.

“The extension of the sanitary sewer main on Market Street will improve sewer capacity in that area,” Keaton said.

“It will also be able to serve sewer north of Upper Lewisburg-Salem Road,” Keaton added.

Keaton said the estimated construction loan amount for the project is $1,138,146.

“The loan term is 30 years,” Keaton said.

Keaton noted the Water Pollution Loan Fund offers below market interest rates.

“The interest rate through December of 2023 is 1 percent,” Keaton said.

“Our dedicated repayment will be user fees in the sanitary sewer fund,” Keaton advised.

Keaton noted she nominated the sanitary extension project last August as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was signed into law in November of 2021.

“The IIJA is providing $1.4 billion to Ohio for water and wastewater projects,” Keaton said.

Council also approved a resolution giving Keaton authorization to apply for Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission Surface Transportation Project funds.

“The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission is soliciting qualified member jurisdictions for new transportation projects using MVRPC regionally-controlled funds,” Keaton said.

“Funding for the Surface Transportation Program, otherwise known as STP, is available in state fiscal year 2028,” Keaton added.

Keaton indicated the STP funds, if awarded, will be used to resurface a section of Arlington Road.

“Arlington Road will be resurfaced from Wolf Creek Street to Triggs Road and from the Interstate 70 westbound exit ramp to the Brookville city limits,” Keaton said.

Keaton said the preliminary engineering cost for STP projects is $61,000, which the city is responsible for paying.

Keaton said the construction cost is $608,270

“I am requesting that the federal share of that cost be 70 percent ($425,789) and the local share be 30 percent ($182,141),” Keaton said.

“The construction engineering cost is $49,000 with federal funds paying 70 percent ($34,300) and the local share being 30 percent ($14,700),” Keaton continued.

Keaton said the total project cost is $718,270, which includes the preliminary engineering.

“The federal share of the total project cost is $460,089. The local share is $258,181,” Keaton said.

Keaton noted the minimum amount the city is expected to pay for the project is 20 percent of the cost.

Keaton indicated she elected to establish the city’s cost of the project at 30 percent in order to accumulate more points toward the project.

“The 30 percent gives the city an extra two points,” Keaton explained.

The higher number of points increases the chance of receiving funding.

“You have to self-score the application and I came up with a total of 43 points,” Keaton said.

“I feel pretty good about getting this project funded,” Keaton added.

Keaton said the MVPRC board of directors will review and make its decisions on what projects will receive funding in March of 2024.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].