Land sold for wastewater facility in Vermilion

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION — Lorain County commissioners have approved the purchase of two parcels with frontage on Sunnyside and Brownhelm Station roads, north of the railroad tracks, as part of plans for a proposed wastewater facility in Vermilion. The action came during the commissioners' March 27 meeting, following a closed-door session, and authorizes the county to move forward with a potential site for what officials describe as a "water resource recovery facility." This agreement: • Sets the purchase price at $1.5 million • Requires $25,000 in earnest money, which is a deposit showing the buyer is serious about the deal; That money is typically applied toward the purchase price, not added on top of it. • Includes a due diligence period, giving the buyer time to evaluate the property before the sale is finalized Lorain County officials said the project is intended to support long-term wastewater infrastructure needs in western Lorain County, though additional details about the facility's design and operation have not yet been finalized. A regional project with local impact The proposed facility comes as Vermilion faces its own wastewater challenges. Vermilion Mayor Russ Owens said the city is currently operating under an Environmental Protection Agency consent decree requiring upgrades to its wastewater system. A consultant's report, spanning more than 5,500 pages, recommended improvements estimated at more than $120 million. For a city of about 10,000 residents and roughly 4,300 households, Owens said that level of investment would be difficult to sustain. "That isn't a solution to the problem: That's just a bigger problem," Owens said. Owens said the city is evaluating all available options to meet EPA requirements while limiting the financial burden on residents. He indicated the county's proposed facility could potentially become part of a broader solution. "As mayor, I am looking at every affordable and realistic way to satisfy the EPA," Owens said. "Vermilion citizens are trusting that their mayor will make the best possible long-term decision by fully vetting all possible solutions." Owens added that he has been working with officials in both Erie and Lorain counties as well as the city of Lorain to explore possible regional approaches. Planning process continues The March 27 vote represents an early step in the process with Lorain County officials expected to continue evaluating the site during the due diligence period. The item was not listed on the publicly posted agenda materials and was introduced following the executive session in which commissioners said real estate matters were discussed. It's one of the few exceptions commissioners can discuss matters in private. Earlier planning documents from the county outlined a potential facility with an initial treatment capacity of approximately 20 million gallons per day with the ability to expand to 60 million gallons per day, though those figures have not been formally adopted as part of the current action. Those same planning materials estimated construction costs in the range of $150 million to $250 million in addition to other project-related expenses. Final design, cost and operational details have not yet been approved. Public discussion surrounding wastewater infrastructure in western Lorain County has drawn increased attention in recent meetings with residents raising questions about cost, long-term impacts and how the project may affect surrounding communities. County officials have indicated that additional information will be released as planning moves forward.