Butler County Commissioners announce road closures, deny sewer and water exemptions

Board President Cindy Carpenter congratulated Flora Butler, the clerk of the board, for being voted President of the Hamilton Rotary Club at the start of the Butler County Commissioners meeting on Monday, June 24.

Carpenter added that it's an especially high accomplishment because she's the first Black woman to hold that position.

"She did a wonderful, wonderful presentation, talking about how the previous ladies who held that position inspired her," Carpenter said. "So Flo, congratulations. We're proud of you."

Following the recognition, the board approved finance resolutions and heard from community members during public comment.

David McCormick, the finance director, approved requisitions totaling to around $5.4 million. Two of the requisitions were from the sheriff departments totaling $235,000. He said the first one is for emergency equipment for deputy vehicles, and the last one is for 2024 customer identification procedures (CIP).

After the finances were approved and different resolutions were presented by Administrator Judi Boyko, the board opened up to public comment. Rick Wickstrom, a licensed physical therapist and occupational health professional, said he leads the Westgate Commons Condo Association and presented rules imposed on the association by the Butler County Sewer and Water Division that he wanted exemption from.

Wickstrom said the association formed in the 1980's, and this was the first year they were required to install a $4,000-6,000 sampling manhole. However, the cost estimate ended up being more than $20,000, exceeding their operating budget.

Several members of the condo association were surveyed and are now required to install backflow prevention devices, as well. Wickstrom added that they have a very low risk for any type of cross contamination or cross connection back from that and wish to be exempt from installing both.

"This was the first time that something like this has been attached to the interior remodeling requirements," Wickstrom said, "and it's a burden from a small business standpoint."

A similar situation happened with local West Chester dentist who said he didn't know about the manhole requirement when he decided to open a second branch in the area. At the meeting he asked the board for a temporary occupancy permit for his business.

The board invited Sue Vance, the former interim director of the water and sewer department, to explain the facts and case laws backing backflow preventers and manholes.

Boyko prefaced Vance's explanation by stating the board's been in contact with Wickstrom and the dentist for more than a month. The board allowed for a building permit to be issued for the dentist so that work could commence without delaying investment, but they cannot further provide an occupancy permit.

"That is the last requirement that we have under our own authority," Boyko said. "So the water department would like for this to be resolved and believes that it needs to be implemented."

Vance said the current requirements are that all commercial and industrial facilities have backflow prevention and have a control manhole when they're built. The regulations date back to at least 2002. She added there's no discretion by the director of water and sewer to give relief to anybody on that issue.

The meeting adjourned with the announcement of two road closures — Trenton Road and South Street — beginning June 24 and ending June 27.

The next weekly meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. July 1 in the Butler County Government Services building, 315 High St.