JEDD II SEWER PROJECT UNDERWAY
Recent projects
Growth Partnership
www.ashtabulagrowth.com

A cold, blustery March day was the official start of construction of sanitary sewer from the City of Geneva to Harpersfield Township.

“In Ashtabula County, we create partnerships to overcome challenges as well as create new opportunities,” stated Joseph Mayernick, Executive Director, Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County. “With this project, we celebrate the partnership between and among the State of Ohio, Ashtabula County, Harpersfield Township, the City of Geneva, the Geneva School District, and the private sector. We also look forward to future development opportunities of the 200+ acres over the next several years.”

The City of Geneva and Harpersfield Township formalized a second Joint Economic Development District (JEDD II) in January 2006. The JEDD II was initiated to provide sanitary sewer service to Harpersfield’s prime commercial and industrial land. The JEDD II boundary encompasses a total of 300+ acres with frontage along Interstate 90, State Route 307, Bishop Road and Old Harpersfield Road.

The cost to construct 11,500 linear feet of sanitary sewer is $1.84 million and that figure does not include the cost for engineering, permit fees, or surveying. Creative financing was used to make the project a reality and includes a Community Development Block Grant, Tax Increment Financing, development fees paid by the effected property owners, and the balance to be financed by the City of Geneva with a $1.5 million loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority. Local contractor CIR was awarded the bid and construction is expected to be complete this August.

“The public and private sector representatives worked together to make sure this unique project would move forward,” stated Commissioner Joe Moroski. “These partners were successful in finding a way to say yes. The JEDD serves as an example of what we can accomplish when we are prepared to share costs, risks and the benefits of working together. The jobs, opportunities and prosperity created by this collaboration will benefit the citizens of Ashtabula County for years to come.”

JEDD II BREAKING GROUND
Monday, March 05, 2007
For immediate release
Growth Partnership
www.ashtabulagrowth.com

Geneva/Harpersfield JEDD II Groundbreaking Ceremony Held
Harpersfield Twp., OH – Public officials, private business representatives and community members gathered together today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Geneva/Harpersfield JEDD II and the official start of construction of sanitary sewer from the City of Geneva to Harpersfield Township.

“In Ashtabula County, we create partnerships to overcome challenges as well as create new opportunities,” stated Joseph Mayernick, Executive Director, Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County. “Today we celebrate the partnership between and among the State of Ohio, Ashtabula County, Harpersfield Township, the City of Geneva, the Geneva School District, and the private sector, and we look toward the future development opportunities of the 200+ acres over the next several years.”
The City of Geneva and Harpersfield Township formalized a second Joint Economic Development District (JEDD II) in January 2006. The JEDD II was initiated to provide sanitary sewer service to Harpersfield’s prime commercial and industrial land. The JEDD II boundary encompasses 300+ acres with frontage along Interstate 90, State Route 307, Bishop Road and Old Harpersfield Road.
The cost to construct 11,500 linear feet of sanitary sewer is $1.84 million, and that figure does not include the cost for engineering, permit fees, or surveying. Creative financing was used to make the project a reality, and includes a Community Development Block Grant, Tax Increment Financing, development fees paid by the affected property owners, and the balance to be financed by the City of Geneva with a $1.5 million loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority. Local contractor CIR was awarded the bid, and construction is expected to be completed this August.

“Geneva City Council and the administrative staff recognized the need to cooperate with the neighboring communities in the area of economic development and other areas where we can join together to create efficiencies for our citizens,” said Jim Pearson, Geneva City Manager. “This second JEDD is another example of the success achieved by many people working hard towards providing the best possible government for our citizens.”

The Harpersfield Township Trustees are excited about the opportunity to provide sanitary sewer infrastructure to the area because “it will assist in retaining existing businesses and jobs and help open up the area for new business.”
County officials believe the Geneva/Harpersfield JEDD II will serve as a prime example of cooperative development for other Ashtabula County communities.

“Infrastructure development and economic development go hand in hand,” stated Deborah Newcomb, Ashtabula County Commissioner. “This project is just the beginning of what hopes to become an ongoing working relationship to improve the ability of our County to provide the necessary services to our business community in the Geneva area. Our development “team” here in Ashtabula County, Growth Partnership, worked diligently with the County and City on obtaining the grants and funding to make this project a reality.”

Commissioner Joe Moroski, President of the Board of County Commissioners, agreed with Ms. Newcomb. “This groundbreaking is only possible because of the collaboration and cooperation of the public and private sector representatives who worked to ensure this unique project would move forward. These partners were successful in finding a way to say yes. This JEDD serves as an example of what we can accomplish when we are prepared to share costs, risks and the benefits of working together. The jobs, opportunities and prosperity created by this collaboration will benefit the citizens of Ashtabula County for years to come.”
Mr. Mayernick also gave public recognition to many of those involved in the project. “The credit for the hard work of applications, negotiations, and discussions goes not only to the governmental entities, but specifically to Jennifer Brown of the City of Geneva, Janet Discher of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, Janice Switzer of the County Department of Environmental Services, Mary Oakley of the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships, Megan Gordon of the Ohio Department of Development, and finally to our advocate Julie Michael Smith of Governor Strickland’s regional office,” stated Mayernick.

JEDD SEWER WORK COMPLETE
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE
Staff Writer
Star Beacon
Published October 16, 2007 06:38 pm

Workers grading, reseeding properties, officials developing informational website.

Construction of the Geneva/Harpersfield Joint Economic Development District II sewer line is complete and final testing of the line will continue this month.

Construction of the Geneva/Harpersfield Joint Economic Development District II sewer line is complete and final testing of the line will continue this month, Geneva City Manager Jim Pearson said.

“The last pipe went in the ground last week and now we are just waiting for the final testing to ensure there are no collapses or blockages in the pipes,” Pearson said. “Generally the testing takes place 30 days after the pipes are put in the ground,” he said.

The pipes have already passed several pressure tests, and water will flow through the new system as soon as Nordic Air ties into the pipes, Pearson said.

“Everything seems to be working well. There was one minor repair on LaFever Road, but that was easily fixed,” he said.

The infrastructure agreement was sparked when Nordic Air secured a five-year, $45 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps, leaving the company with plenty of work, but no sewer system for the needed plant expansion.

Nordic Air owner Ron Clutter’s need for sewers turned into a joint economic development district (JEDD), which is a partnership between a township and a municipality (village or city) which allows the separate entities to combine efforts within a geographic area without annexing any property. A JEDD allows the governments to impose income taxes on businesses and employees located within the specified JEDD. This money, which Geneva and Harpersfield will share, also will pay for road improvements, sewer work and other infrastructure improvements. However, residential and agricultural properties cannot be included in the JEDD.

This sharing of tax dollars funded an extension of the Geneva sewer system to Harpersfield, running a new system from LaFever Road and under Route 90 to the JEDD. The JEDD covers 330 acres and includes 28 properties on both sides of Route 534.

The $1.84 million, 11,5000 linear feet of sanitary sewer construction was completed on time and on budget, Pearson said.

“The final numbers come in at approximately $1.9 million, so we are right on the money,” Pearson said.

An informational website is in the works to advertise the JEDD area as a place for industry, Pearson said.

“Some properties are already for sale. The main line is ready for growth,” he said.

Workers are cleaning up the construction mess, including grading and seeding properties affected by the construction.

“It is all about the dress up work now,” Pearson said. “We expect to repair those properties within a few weeks before the snow flies,” he said.

Pearson said the project went as well as expected for any large-scale construction.

“I believe everyone involved in the JEDD agreement is very pleased with the process. Everything ran pretty smoothly,” Pearson said. “Of course there were a few little bumps in the road, but all deadlines were met,” he said.