WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Fayette County commissioners are asking the governor’s office to speed up federal permitting for a stalled water intake project at Caesars Creek, warning that a prolonged shutdown could push the work into the middle of winter and add to its cost.
Commissioners met virtually on Oct. 5 with members of the governor’s staff, including Laurel Dawson, Nikki Guilford and Megan Wadsworth, to request assistance on behalf of the city of Wilmington in securing an expedited permit process for the intake pump buildout at Caesars Creek, according to meeting minutes. The county acknowledged an error in how it initially applied for permits and apologized for the mistake.
Commissioners said demobilizing and securing the work site would be cost-prohibitive, and that the length of time required would likely delay the project further by pushing it into the winter months. The standard expedited process through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes 90 days; Fayette County is asking for a 30-day turnaround instead.
During the same meeting, commissioners voted to hire Bowen Engineering to demobilize and remobilize the site, formally designated Fayette County Contract C2 — the Wilmington Caesars Creek Intake Facility.
The commissioners did not specify in the minutes when they expect a response from the governor’s office on the expedited timeline.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Fayette County Board of Commissioners.
