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City committee advances plan to remove sediment behind low-head dams, using state grants and loan sponsorship
Summary
The finance committee reviewed a Mill Creek Park river remediation plan that would remove sediment behind low-head dams. Staff said the $6.5 million project is funded primarily by state and regional grants and would use a city loan as a self-sponsorship to secure WRSP funds; no local cash was required, though easements and an eminent domain option were discussed.
The Youngstown City Finance Committee on May 20 considered a design-build procurement and funding plan to remove sediment behind low-head dams on Mill Creek, a project staff described as aimed at improving river water quality and restoring original flows.
Chuck (public works staff) told the committee the project'9s total cost is about $6.5 million and outlined the funding stack: roughly $3.5 million from the Water Resource Sponsorship Program (WRSP), $1 million in state biennium funds and $2 million in LTV funds. "This is really a water quality benefit to the river," Chuck said, adding that Ohio EPA will administer the WRSP funds.
Why it matters: staff said the dams have trapped pollutants and sediments since steel-mill-era construction, and removing them would allow the river to "self clean" by restoring more natural flows. The project includes separate components for design-build selection (RFP), property easements/acquisitions and a sponsorship agreement required by the WRSP program.
How the city will sponsor the WRSP requirement: staff said the city proposes a "self-sponsorship" arrangement that leverages an anticipated $43–47 million wastewater loan. "Because we are borrowing $47,000,000 for Mill Creek Park sewer, we'9re going to use that loan as a sponsorship to generate the funds needed to get our grant to the dams," Chuck said. He added that sponsorship of WRSP funds supplies the program with interest income that replenishes the fund and can improve the city'9s interest terms on the wastewater loan.
Property and schedule risks: staff said property acquisition and easements are part of the project and identified one parcel where negotiation had not succeeded; they said eminent domain is being considered if needed. Committee members asked whether there are deadlines tied to the grants; staff replied that time frames exist but are flexible and the city is in regular communication with Ohio EPA and regional partners.
Next steps: the committee reviewed ordinance language for the procurement and sponsorship phases (items 14–16) and discussed moving those items forward to the council floor for consideration. Staff emphasized that no local cash is currently required for the project, and that final award of grants and contracts will follow the RFP and easement processes.
The committee did not take a floor vote on contracting in the meeting; the items will appear on the council floor for further consideration.
