By 1808Delaware
Delaware County’s continuing growth was the topic during much of Monday’s Delaware County Commissioners meeting, where environmental services updates touched nearly every part of the development equation: major sewer capacity projects, new residential subdivisions, commercial extensions, delinquent sewer accounts, and the steady rise in new system connections.
Environmental Services Director Tiffany Maag presented the updates during the meeting, giving commissioners a detailed look at both immediate activity and longer-range infrastructure needs. The discussion made clear that sewer planning is no longer simply a behind-the-scenes function of county government. In a fast-growing county, it is one of the systems that determines where, when, and how development can continue.
East Allen Creek Pump Station Gets A Price And Timeline
One of the most significant items approved by commissioners was a guaranteed maximum price amendment with Peterson Construction Company for construction manager at risk services tied to the East Allen Creek pump station upgrades. The amendment locks in a price of $4.53 million for the new pump station, which is planned near Africa Road and U.S. 36/State Route 37.
Maag said the project is needed to serve growth in the area east of Galena Road and near the outlet mall, where additional development is expected. She described the pump station as a badly needed capacity improvement for that part of the county, noting that there are additional areas nearby that want to develop and will require adequate sewer service. The project is expected to begin in June 2026 and be completed around January 2027, giving it a relatively quick turnaround for a utility project of that scale. Commissioners acknowledged that the project has been in the works for some time and approved the amendment unanimously.
Central Alum Creek Plant Moves Into Its Next Planning Phase
Commissioners also approved an amendment to the county’s professional services agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation for the Central Alum Creek Wastewater Reclamation Plant. Maag called it another very important project for the area, and said the county has been working through planning for the new treatment plant over the past several years. This amendment is not for construction itself, but for the next major planning and approval phase. It is expected to carry the project through roughly the next year and includes work on an environmental assessment and a water quality model. Both are needed as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval process.
The work also includes preparation connected to the Ohio EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, commonly known as an NPDES permit. That permit is required for a wastewater treatment plant that will discharge into a waterway. In addition, the county will move forward with a facilities plan that will define the proposed plant’s footprint, size, and general layout before the project can advance to full design and construction.
Maag said the work under this amendment should take the county to approximately June 2027. A later amendment would be needed for the actual design and construction phase. Commissioners described the project as long in coming, and Maag said the county is now seeing progress.
Delinquent Sewer Accounts Stay Below Four Percent
Environmental Services also brought forward a resolution certifying delinquent sewer accounts to the county auditor for collection on payable year 2027 taxes. The accounts cover the November through January billing cycle.
Maag reported that this marked the third consecutive quarter in which total sewer delinquencies remained below 4%. The figure for the quarter was 3.87%, representing $176,002 in delinquent accounts. She said the county tends to remain in a similar range from quarter to quarter. One factor helping stabilize collections is automatic payment enrollment, with about 34% of users currently on autopay. Commissioners approved the certification unanimously.
April Brings More Than 100 New Connections
The monthly sewer update showed that activity picked up in April, which Maag said is typical once better weather arrives. During the month, the county recorded 104.7 new sewer connections. That total included 89 single-family home connections and 15.7 commercial connections. There were no multifamily connections in April, and Maag noted that the county has not yet recorded any multifamily sewer connections so far in 2026. That is expected to change, however, because several multifamily projects are moving forward. The connection numbers offered a practical glimpse of Delaware County’s growth pattern. Even in a single month, the sewer system is absorbing a steady mix of new homes and commercial activity, with additional development already in the pipeline.
Subdivisions Continue To Advance
Several plan approvals and subdivider agreements reflected ongoing residential growth in different parts of the county. Clark Shaw Village was one of the projects discussed. The development includes 95 units by Miranda Homes and is located north of Clark Shaw Road and east of Section Line Road. Maag said the development effectively completes that side of the tributary area. It is the northernmost point that can flow into the county’s existing OA pump station. Any additional development in that area would require a new pump station project that would connect to an existing force main near the Oshana pump station.
Del Webb sections two and three also remained active in the county’s updates. Maag said that development has appeared in recent monthly reports and continues to move forward. It will flow into Northstar’s plant.
Parkside at Evans Farm, a Rockford community, was also included. Section two includes 55 lots, while a related subdivider agreement for section one covers 39 units.
Berlin Farms West Keeps Moving
Berlin Farms West sections 11 and 12 were also part of the Environmental Services update. The MI Homes subdivision is located off Berlin Station Road and has continued to move through its phases quickly. Maag noted that the project has reached sections 11 and 12 within roughly a year or two, underscoring the pace of residential construction in that area. Across all sections, she estimated the development includes about 500 to 600 homes.
The Berlin Farms West update was one of several reminders that Delaware County’s sewer planning is closely tied to subdivision phasing. As each new section advances, the county must ensure that infrastructure, capacity, and agreements are in place to support the next stage of growth.
Commercial And Residential Extensions Add To The List
The update also included Three Strands Holdings, described as a sanitary extension for a pair of commercial buildings tied to a warehouse project off Old Liberty Road near Home Road.
Eagle Creek Highlands was also reviewed. The Pulte development is located off 3Bs and K Road, just south of the original Eagle Creek development. Maag noted that the county has seen this area repeatedly in recent updates as development continues there.
Courtyards at Concord Phase 2, which had appeared in the previous month’s update with plan approval, includes 24 single-family units near Tartan Fields Golf Course. Courtyards at Evans Farm was also included. That Epcon development is located off Old State Road across from Sunglow Drive and includes 36 units.
Infrastructure Following Growth
The Environmental Services portion of Monday’s meeting offered a detailed look at the infrastructure side of Delaware County’s growth. New pump stations, treatment plant planning, subdivision approvals, commercial sewer extensions, and new monthly connections are all moving at the same time.
