Middletown is about to take the first step of a 25-year, $269M project

He said the project will be utilizing a natural and sustainable design method to mitigate stormwater by redirecting the flow from the drainage area to a one-acre basin that will be located at Sunset Park.

The LTCP is a part of the consent decree terms agreed to by the city with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce combined sewer overflows into the Great Miami River.

In his staff report, Tadych said the intercepted flow from the drainage area will be redirected into an approximate one-acre regional green infrastructure basin located at Sunset Park that will reduce stormwater loading to the combined sewer system. He said the basin will include a cobblestone channel surrounded by aesthetic plantings to manage water quality and be bounded by a ledgestone seat wall. Approximately 40 new trees will be planted throughout the park with minimal disturbance to existing mature trees.

Project plans also call for a bridge over the primary basin that connects to a new walking path throughout the park. A new playground plaza for both school-aged children and pre-school children will be created where the old pool was located and will also include a new shade/picnic structure, walking paths, and landscaping. The existing parking area will be repaved and connect to the walking paths. New trees will be planted throughout the park.

In addition to the new amenities and drainage basin at Sunset Park, the city will also be making other infrastructure improvements, including installing a new storm sewer on Sheldon Road between Kenwood and Santa Fe drives, replacing the water main through this section and repaving the street from curb to curb.

Middletown City Council on Tuesday approved the $2.71 million contract with Majors Enterprises, Inc. that was the lowest and best bid submitted from four contractors vying for the contract.

MORE: Middletown raising sewer rates in advance of mandatory improvements

Shelby Quinlivan, city spokeserson, said officials took the ideas and conversation from a meeting with residents around Sunset Park and incorporated some of that into the final plans.

During that meeting, Tadych also gave a short history on Middletown’s combined sewer system which was built from the late 1800s to about 1950 when the city built its wastewater treatment plant. He said the current system creates the overflows from eight locations near the river. Tadych said in a normal year, there are about 85 overflows into the river from the city’s combined sewer system.

Some residents expressed concerns about losing many mature trees in the park, losing access to the park during construction, and safety concerns with water in the drainage basin.

Tadych said the basins were designed to drain the stormwater within 24 to 48 hours. He also said they will be leaving as many large trees as possible and plenty of open turf in the park.

2018 area combined water and sewer rates in Butler/Warren counties

Each year, the city of Oakwood surveys 63 local government jurisdictions for their water and sewer rates. The amounts listed are based on 22,500 gallons or 3,000 cubic feet of water in a three-month period. Rates quoted are those in effect as of March, 1, 2018. The survey for 2019 has not been published.

SOURCE: City of Oakwood