BAZETTA TWP., Ohio - Property owners along part of Perkins Jones Road in Bazetta Township will be switching from septic systems to the county sewer system after a move from billion dollar company Amazon. 

The online retail giant is building a warehouse on the road and paid to have the county sewer lines extended to their property. With the main line now running through the residential area, property owners are on the hook to pay and hire a contractor to connect to it. 

It’s something most of the property owners we spoke to are happy to do. 

“I think the sewers will be an economic benefit and just much easier to live with then having to worry about servicing the septic system every year,” Tom Wills, a property owner on the road said. 

Prices for connection vary from home to home but could be in the thousands. 

If homeowners need financial assistance they can get on a wait list for a grant program through the Trumbull County Planning Commission that could possibly cover the entire cost.

All of the homes did get a break on the bill overall when Amazon covered the cost for the tap in fees and health department fees, coming to about $2,000 a property. 

“Anything off the final bill is great,” Wills said. “Amazon asked for the sewer. There is some school of thought that Amazon should pay for the laterals. They've paid for a few things already. I'm not going to go there… if it's an affordable amount we'll pay for it, if it's an astounding amount we'll probably have to go to a bank but either way we're going to do it.”

County engineers said linking into the sewer lines does have some benefits. 

“They now have sanitary sewer service which does increase the value of the property and they are not going to have to pay off any long term debt associated with the project,” Gary Newbrough, the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer said. "There will be no front foot assessments, there will be no capital charges on the monthly sewer bill to retire the debt. Amazon has paid for the complete installation of the sewer system.”

Since the warehouse is a private project, the county was not required to hold a public hearing about the mandatory connection to the lines. Only those without a properly functioning septic system are required to connect, all other will be given the option.

Once the home owners are notified they have six months to connect but they can apply to have that extended to two years.

Those interested in the grant funding can call Emily Moran with the planning commission at 330-675-2706.