Council committee hears estimate and environmental questions for Columbus Road lift-station replacements

The Athens City and Safety Services Committee on March 10 considered a proposal to replace two aging sewage lift stations on Columbus Road (project number 359), which the city says are undersized and nearing the end of their useful life.

Committee chair Micah McCary opened the item and said the replacements would serve expected growth in the area and the new hospital: "Our Columbus Road lift stations are in need of 2 sewage lift stations that are, currently too small and, at the end of their life." He said the draft engineer’s estimate for construction is $1,750,000 and the committee packet requested appropriations split between CDBG funding and the sewer fund.

A member of the public, Beth Cloudfilter, asked whether solar power had been considered for the lift stations: "We were talking about making the lift stations have solar power, and I wonder if we could do that." Committee members discussed feasibility; Jeff Reiser noted the pumps consume large amounts of electricity and said he could not "think of how in the world you would put enough panels" to cover the load, and other members raised Ohio weather and winter-cloud cover as constraints. Member Swank suggested the new hospital might be asked to contribute as a nearby large beneficiary.

McCary said the project will be bid and is expected to be built in summer with minimal disruption to sewer customers and the traveling public; committee members asked staff to investigate solar feasibility, potential grant opportunities and whether the hospital could contribute to costs. No vote was recorded in committee.