Village of Albany prepares sewer annexation for future development

ALBANY, Ohio — The village of Albany is preparing for a new sewer annexation project following a groundbreaking ceremony on June 1. 

The annexation will provide sewer service to 136.52 acres in Albany. The village corporation limits border the area on one side, with the Kanawha River Railroad tracks on another. 

Funding for the annexation was obtained through the federal America Rescue Plan Act. The construction alone will cost $900,671, with additional costs, such as engineering, expected. 

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Mayor Tim Kirkendall said the village initially sought out grant funding by itself. However, Athens County received ARPA funding through Gov. Mike DeWine’s office. After multiple conversations with the county commissioners, they allotted funding to the project.

Kirkendall said the area has not been developed previously only due to the lack of sewer access and the funding necessary to construct it; gas, water and fiber optics are already accessible to the area.

The area where the sewer service is expected to be available is divided into four properties. The properties are owned by Athens-registered Idyllic Acres LTD, West Virginia-based Construction Solutions & Leasing LLC, Albany-based G&H Diversified Solutions, Brion TR Withrow and Phyllis J. Bolin. 

There are some residences already abutting the area, including the Evergreen Terrace senior affordable housing complex.

The properties could be sold individually or collectively by the owners as long as the village’s zoning regulations are met. 

Kirkendall and Village Council President Neal Reynolds intend for smaller industry businesses to inhabit the area to provide jobs and boost the local economy. 

“[The goal is] to bring businesses here that will generate tax revenue and, more than that, provide jobs,” Reynolds said. 

Future development could incentivize people who live in Athens County but commute to the Columbus area for work to keep their tax dollars in the local economy, Reynolds and Kirkendall said.

Kirkendall and Reynolds expressed the desire to have light industrial uses in the business area, rather than more heavy industries. Kirkendall said he wants to avoid industries that may pollute the area and to maintain the “small-town charm” of Albany. 

There have been no inquiries about developing the land as of June 7, according to Kirkendall.