Cost estimates explained for river cleanup

MANSFIELD — Ahead of the public hearing on the proposal to clean up the Black Fork River, Richland County Engineer Adam Gove detailed a preliminary cost estimate, previewing what would be involved financially if the project were to be undertaken.

In all 10,567 parcels are involved, covering 70,024 acres. The effort would include the estimated 18-mile river cleanup and future maintenance. But what do those costs entail?

Gove shared his preliminary findings in remarks and through a Powerpoint presentation. Gove broke it down into categories:

* Construction, $516,000

* Engineering, $55,000

* Administration, $15,000

* Mailings, advertising, legal notices $13,000

* Construction inspection, $50,000

“If this were to go forward, and we go through the construction, we have to have somebody to go out and inspect the work on a daily basis,” Gove said of construction inspection.

In his presentation on the overall proposed project, Gove posed a question: What are the benefits?

“Those within the 100-year floodplain will see the most benefit,” Gove responded in remarks and his Powerpoint. He mentioned three specifics:

* Possible increased land value

* Possible increased crop production * Possible reduced localized flooding In reviewing the Ohio Revised Code, Gove spoke of “what is a benefit?” “Not who is benefited but what is benefited,” he said. That, he detailed, includes:

* elimination or reduction of damage from flooding

*removal of water conditions that jeopardize public health, safety, or welfare

* increased value of land resulting from an improvement.

“So those three would apply to this project,” Gove said in comments.

The Powerpoint also presented another question: “How do we put a number on the benefits?”

“Because we have to be able to, when the commissioners make a decision, they have to be able to ascertain that the benefits are going to outweigh the costs,” Gove said in remarks.

“We looked

at

the

increased crop