The Columbiana County Commissioners granted a request by the county Port Authority and Economic Development to serve as administrators over a grant that allows financially-strapped residents of Hanoverton tap into the new sanitary sewer lines.

The village and residents are required to tap into the lines.

“In the spring, Troy Graft and the Columbiana County Engineer’s office helped the commissioners apply for a grant through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for an overflow sewer grant program,” explained Economic Development’s Tad Herold. “In order to help those residents who may not be financially capable to do so themselves, this grant will provide up to $192,100 for people who qualify within the village to make that tap possible.”

Hanoverton Mayor Becky Kibler said the grant is much welcomed and much needed.

“As the mayor, I can say that there is a need for sure,” she said. “Those who have not hooked up are below income who simply can’t afford it.

The sewer project was made possible through a $4 million principal forgiveness loan from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and other grants, including from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Appalachian Regional Commission. It addressed public health and water quality concerns caused by failing household septic systems in and around Hanoverton and involved installing about 25,000 feet of new sewer lines, upgrades to the Kensington wastewater treatment plant while providing sanitary sewer service to approximately 180 households and several businesses in the Hanoverton area.

Tapping in is now mandatory – it is also expensive. The grant from the Ohio EPA alleviates that burden.

As administrators of the grant, the Port Authority and Economic Development can now pre-qualify residents, coordinate contractors and all other things needed.

“What will happen is we already got the grant agreement,” Herold said. “Now, we are working through process and qualification tables but at any point after today’s meeting if a person from the village believes that they qualify they can call the port authority economic development at 330-424-1800 and we can start to put them through the process.”

Herold said it is also imperative to get the word out and hopes to start pre-qualifying residents within the next two months.

“We will work with the mayor and try to roll this out in other ways,” he said. “We want to make sure everybody in the village knows this is available if they qualify.”

Also at the meeting:

— The commissioners approved a resolution to dispose of a vehicle (a 2010 Chevrolet Colorado) that is no longer fit for public use by the county drug task force as part of county procedure.

— The commissioners announced that electronic bids are ongoing for the bridge replacement in Center Township.

— Amended official certificate and appropriations were presented, accepted and approved. They were treasurer ($80,000 appropriate), sheriff ($14,497 certificate and appropriate), engineer $21,907 (certificate and appropriate), drug court ($50,400 appropriate) and juvenile court ($107,026 appropriate).