Lake County sets final assessments for Kirtland Old Town sewer project at $4,573.58 per unit

County officials reported final assessment amounts for the Kirtland Old Town sewer project during the Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting. The county’s utilities department said the final assessment is $4,573.58 per benefit unit after applying grants and other funding.

The utilities department staff said tentative assessments were set about three years ago and that county staff are verifying property owners. Final assessment letters will go out in about two weeks; property owners will have 30 days to pay all or part of the assessed amount. Any unpaid balance will be placed on property tax bills for the next 20 years.

Utilities staff told the commissioners that without the additional funding the per-unit cost would have been about $28,500. Commissioners and county staff said multiple grants and other funding sources — including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds — reduced the assessment to the announced amount. The presentation noted that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandated the sewer work in the neighborhood.

The report acknowledged that the county worked with external partners to secure funding and that outreach to homeowners is ongoing as staff verify ownership records prior to mailing the final assessment notices. No formal vote or change to the assessment process was recorded during the presentation.

Officials said they expect the letters to include payment options; the utilities department will follow up with additional implementation details after mailing the notices.