Vermilion City Council devoted part of Monday’s meeting to a presentation on Lorain County’s newly awarded 67 million dollar state grant for wastewater infrastructure, a development officials say could reshape Vermilion’s long-term sewer plans.
Mayor Jim Forthofer introduced Lorain County Administrator Jeff Armbruster and attorney Lou McMahon, who outlined how the funding supports a proposed megasite near Lorain County Regional Airport. The site is being positioned for large-scale industrial employers that require extensive water and sewer capacity.
“This could be big for Vermilion,” Forthofer said, recalling a call from County Commissioner Dave Moore on the morning the grant was announced.
Armbruster described the award as historic, calling it the largest of its kind the county has received. The money will go toward creating a new West Side Water Recovery Resource Facility, with an initial wastewater treatment capacity of 20 million gallons per day, expandable up to 60 million. Construction is targeted to begin in 2026 and could be completed by 2030.
McMahon emphasized that the megasite project and the creation of the Clearwater District, a proposed countywide sewer entity under Ohio Revised Code 6119, are parallel efforts, not dependent on each other. The Clearwater District must still go through a court process and show financial feasibility, while the state grant is already moving forward to fund infrastructure on the county’s west side.
For Vermilion, the update carried particular weight. The city has faced U.S. EPA mandates regarding its wastewater plant and has considered a costly 75 million dollar facility of its own. Forthofer noted the Baumhart Road transmission line tied to the county project could allow Vermilion to connect instead, shifting from independent treatment to a regional system. The potential change in plans would reduce the expense Vermilion has to pay to be compliant with the EPA by a large margin.
“This is gradually starting to come together now,” Forthofer told council, suggesting the county project could offer a more affordable alternative for residents.
Armbruster emphasized that rates would be uniform across communities, similar to the model used at French Creek. McMahon added that the new facility is designed with modern standards, including water reuse options and even a potential educational center to train future wastewater professionals.
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