Columbus City Council last night approved legislation to launch a 43 million dollar biosolids disposal project. The project will end incineration of biosolids at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment plant, in order to comply with Ohio EPA emissions requirements coming in 2016. Columbus Utilities Director Greg Davies says the city will borrow from the agency to fund the project, and the money will be repaid through collection of water fees the city charges to residential and commercial customers.
Davies says biosolids will be stored in tanks for distribution to businesses and farmers. The project is expected to be completed by March 2016, with work at the Jackson Pike plant to start after that. Council also approved a 15 thousand dollar matching grant to the sponsors of the Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance Softball World Series. Bruce Winbush of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission says officials expect a degree of tourism activity greater than when the city last hosted the games in 2010.
The event will be held at Berliner Park in August.