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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
By:
Robert J. Berner
The New Year is upon us and the outlook for
2013 is hard to predict.
We had a good year in 2012 with a number of
accomplishments to reflect back on and build upon. LORCO is looking
ahead and setting some goals for growth in 2013.
First, the results of the feasibility study
to provide wastewater treatment services to Pheasant Run Village in
LaGrange Township will be our number one priority as we enter 2013.
The results of the study will be available in
early January.
Our challenge will be to evaluate the study and
ensure treatment services will cost effectively address the concerns of
the community. At the same time we need to be aware
of the impact sanitary sewers might have on the neighboring homes in
LaGrange Township.
Our goal will be to ensure a proper evaluation
of the costs and benefits address the problems facing the Pheasant Run
community and do not place an undue burden on other areas of the
township.
We will be seeking grants and low interest loans
to build the project should the study prove it to be cost effective.
Second, we will be working to reach that ideal balance between
cost of service and rates within our Phase I Project.
The biggest challenge will be how to add new
customers to the system.
This is where 2013 is hard to predict.
A number of builders and developers have
expressed interest in adding new building lots.
The existing inventory of building lots in
Lorain County has been dwindling over the past few years.
The hope is there will be a renewed demand for
new construction in 2013 that has not been present for the last few
years.
There is
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substantial undeveloped land in our Phase I
territory that has tremendous potential for new homes.
Our hope is 2013 will see a number of developers breaking
ground on new building lots.
Finally, we will be working on ensuring
opportunities for sanitary sewer services in some of our unsewered
communities will develop.
The work we did in 2011 and 2012 to bring regional treatment
to Lorain County is an important part of providing cost effective means
to provide services to communities on the western side of the county.
Our hope is we will continue to develop this option and see
more cooperative efforts between political subdivisions.
The outlook for 2013 is good.
We will remain cautiously optimistic we can bring new
opportunities to more communities in our territory.
We also will continue to provide our assistance and services
to other agencies and communities who can benefit from our regional
approach.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER:
By: James McConnell
The year ahead, as Director Berner expressed, provides LORCO
with many challenges but with those challenges comes opportunities.
I believe we are on the edge of a new era in our
communities.
We are turning the corner from being a mere start up
utility to becoming the type of organization we all envisioned when
LORCO organized in 1997. Even though we will still face obstacles and
skeptics as we grow, our board has been steadfast in their commitment to
fulfill the mission and goals in which we so strongly believe. In 2013
we expect to see
our labors produce more of the results we have
worked toward these past fifteen years.
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