BEREA, Ohio – Berea City Council at its Dec. 2 regular meeting passed legislation enabling the city to officially accept a $729,000 grant from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) to help defray the cost of sewer rehabilitation work in 2025.
Administered through the 2025 Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP), the grant money becomes available Jan. 1 and will be applied to design and construction costs for sewer improvements in the Jacqueline Drive, Meadow Drive and Sprague Road area.
Public Service Director/City Engineer Tony Armagno previously told council there had been some flooding issues, but “nothing too significant.” He indicated, however, NEORSD identified the designated Jacqueline/Meadow/Sprague area as one where inflow and infiltration was a problem, meaning storm water was entering the sanitary sewer system.
Approximately 14 to 15 streets’ pipes will be relined, enabling the possible decommissioning of the pump station on Fair Street. It had been used to help alleviate basement flooding in the Fair Street area prior to completion of a recent major Fair Street infrastructure project, but the equipment may no longer be needed.
Armagno expects minimal disruption during the project, with work primarily taking place underground.
“This is a sewer rehabilitation, meaning very little excavation or disturbance of pavement,” he explained prior to the Dec. 2 vote.
“I anticipate there will be very little impact.”
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