Clermont County adopts revised five-year water and wastewater plans and authorizes Fay Road bid

The Clermont County Board of County Commissioners on June 25 approved revised five-year capital improvement plans for the county's water and wastewater systems and authorized advertising for bids on the Fay Road water-main replacement project.

County Water Resources Director Lyle Bloom told the board the department identified roughly 64 water projects and 52 wastewater projects in the five-year window. The water plan lists about $65.4 million in projects from 2025—629 with approximately $46.4 million available and a roughly $19.0 million shortfall; the wastewater plan lists just over $112 million in planned work with about $60.0 million in available funding and a deficit of roughly $52.0 million.

Bloom outlined active and near-term projects: a Bradbury transmission main (about $2.7 million), White Oak Road water-main work (phase 1 bid $2.8 million; phase 2 estimated $3.5 million), Branch Hill'Miamiville replacements (projects ranging from $2.7 million to $3.1 million), multiple tank repaintings underway this year, and larger wastewater projects including Lower East Fork wet-weather improvements (design now; $25 million estimate) and a longer-term treatment-plant expansion shown in the plan at about $49 million.

"We are underfunded about $19,000,000" on the water side and "just over $52,000,000 underfunded" on the sewer side, Bloom said, adding that the estimates do not include future grants, tax-increment financing (TIF) tied to development in the Affton area, anticipated new large customers, or planned capacity-fee and rate increases.

Commissioners approved three formal resolutions tied to the department's plan work. Resolution 092-25 adopts the revised county wastewater general plan and authorizes the Water Resources Department to perform preliminary and design engineering, issue notices and perform soil and survey work on affected properties, and to apply for state and federal grants or loans consistent with Chapter 6117 of the Ohio Revised Code. Resolution 093-25 adopts the revised county waterworks general plan with similar authorities and cites Chapter 6103 of the Ohio Revised Code. The board also approved Resolution 094-25 to advertise for bids and proceed with the Fay Road water-main replacement (project number 6401-60207) with an engineer's estimate of $1,786,885.

The board voted on each resolution by roll call; both voting commissioners recorded "yes" on the roll calls and the motions passed. Bloom said the department plans to pursue grants and loans and to recommend future rate and capacity-fee adjustments to close funding gaps.

Bloom and his staff also discussed project timing: several construction starts are slated for later this year and through 2026—2029, while larger plant-expansion items are shown in the plan beyond the five-year window and will require loan funding and updated permit work.

The sanitary engineer's office will next pursue preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way acquisition as needed, and applications for grant and low-interest loan programs. Commissioners asked staff to continue annual updates to the capital plan and signaled support for pursuing available grant funds and for presenting recommended rate changes when those studies are complete.

Votes at the meeting recorded for these items were part of a broader slate of approvals; the board met as scheduled and recessed for brief logistics before continuing other business.

Bloom's full presentation included line-item estimates and project schedules that county staff said will be posted with the department's capital plan materials and updated annually.