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Chapter 6103 | County Water Supply Systems

 
 
 
Section
Section 6103.01 | County water supply system definitions.
 

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Public water supply facilities," "water supply facilities," "water supply improvement," or "improvement" means, without limiting the generality of those terms, water wells and well fields, springs, lakes, rivers, streams, or other sources of water supply, intakes, pumping stations and equipment, treatment, filtration, or purification plants, force and distribution lines or mains, cisterns, reservoirs, storage facilities, necessary equipment for fire protection, other related structures, equipment, and furnishings, and real estate and interests in real estate, necessary or useful in the proper development of a water supply for domestic or other purposes and its proper distribution.

(B) "Current operating expenses," "debt charges," "permanent improvement," "public obligations," and "subdivision" have the same meanings as in section 133.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Construct," "construction," or "constructing" means construction, reconstruction, enlargement, extension, improvement, renovation, repair, and replacement of water supply facilities, but does not include repairs, replacements, or similar actions that do not constitute and qualify as permanent improvements.

(D) "Maintain," "maintaining," or "maintenance" means repairs, replacements, and similar actions that constitute and are payable as current operating expenses and that are required to restore water supply facilities to, or to continue water supply facilities in, good order and working condition, but does not include construction of permanent improvements.

(E) "Public agency" means a state and any agency or subdivision of a state, including a county, a municipal corporation, or other subdivision.

(F) "County sanitary engineer" means either of the following:

(1) The registered professional engineer employed or appointed by the board of county commissioners to be the county sanitary engineer as provided in section 6117.01 of the Revised Code;

(2) The county engineer, if, for as long as and to the extent that engineer by agreement entered into under section 315.14 of the Revised Code is retained to discharge the duties of a county sanitary engineer under this chapter.

(G) "Homestead exemption" means the reduction of taxes allowed under division (A) of section 323.152 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Low- and moderate-income persons" has the same meaning as in section 175.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 6103.02 | Powers of county commissioners regarding public water supply.
 

(A) For the purpose of preserving and promoting the public health and welfare, a board of county commissioners may acquire, construct, maintain, and operate any public water supply facilities within its county for one or more sewer districts and may provide for their protection and prevent their pollution and unnecessary waste. The board may negotiate and enter into a contract with any public agency or any person for the management, maintenance, operation, and repair of the facilities on behalf of the county, upon the terms and conditions as may be agreed upon with the agency or person and as may be determined by the board to be in the interests of the county. By contract with any public agency or any person operating public water supply facilities within or without its county, the board also may provide a supply of water to a sewer district from the facilities of the public agency or person.

(B) The county sanitary engineer or sanitary engineering department, in addition to other assigned duties, shall assist the board in the performance of its duties under this chapter and shall be charged with other duties and services in relation to the board's duties as the board prescribes.

(C) The board may adopt, publish, administer, and enforce rules for the construction, maintenance, protection, and use of county-owned or county-operated public water supply facilities outside municipal corporations and of public water supply facilities within municipal corporations that are owned or operated by the county or that are supplied with water from water supply facilities owned or operated by the county, including, but not limited to, rules for the establishment and use of any connections, the termination in accordance with reasonable procedures of water service for nonpayment of county water rates and charges, and the establishment and use of security deposits to the extent considered necessary to ensure the payment of county water rates and charges. The rules shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the state or any applicable rules of the director of environmental protection.

(D) No public water supply facilities shall be constructed in any county outside municipal corporations by any person, except for the purpose of supplying water to those municipal corporations, until the plans and specifications for the facilities have been approved by the board. Construction shall be done under the supervision of the county sanitary engineer. Any person constructing public water supply facilities shall pay to the county all expenses incurred by the board in connection with the construction.

(E) The county sanitary engineer or the county sanitary engineer's authorized assistants or agents, when properly identified in writing or otherwise and after written notice is delivered to the owner at least five days in advance or mailed at least five days in advance by first class or certified mail to the owner's tax mailing address, may enter upon any public or private property for the purpose of making, and may make, surveys or inspections necessary for the design or evaluation of county public water supply facilities. This entry is not a trespass and is not to be considered an entry in connection with any appropriation of property proceedings under sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code that may be pending. No person or public agency shall forbid the county sanitary engineer or the county sanitary engineer's authorized assistants or agents to enter, or interfere with their entry, upon the property for the purpose of making the surveys or inspections. If actual damage is done to property by the making of the surveys or inspections, the board shall pay the reasonable value of the damage to the property owner, and the cost shall be included in the cost of the facilities and may be included in any special assessments levied and collected to pay that cost.

(F) The board shall fix reasonable rates, including penalties for late payments, for water supplied to public agencies and persons when the source of supply or the facilities for its distribution are owned or operated by the county and may change the rates from time to time as it considers advisable. When the source of the water supply to be used by the county is owned by another public agency or person, the schedule of rates to be charged by the public agency or person shall be approved by the board at the time it enters into a contract for the use of water from the public agency or person.

When the distribution facilities are owned by the county, the board also may fix reasonable charges to be collected for the privilege of connecting to the distribution facilities and may require that, prior to the connection, the charges be paid in full or, if determined by the board to be equitable in a resolution relating to the payment of the charges, may require their payment in installments, as considered adequate by the board, at the times, in the amounts, and with the security, carrying charges, and penalties as may be determined by the board in that resolution to be fair and appropriate. No public agency or person shall be permitted to connect to those facilities until the charges have been paid in full or provision for their payment in installments has been made. If the connection charges are to be paid in installments, the board shall certify, to the county auditor, information sufficient to identify each parcel of property served by a connection and, with respect to each parcel, the total of the charges to be paid in installments, the amount of each installment, and the total number of installments to be paid. The county auditor shall record and maintain the information so supplied in the waterworks record provided for in section 6103.16 of the Revised Code until the connection charges are paid in full. The board may include amounts attributable to connection charges being paid in installments in its billings of rates and other charges for water supplied. In addition, the board may consider payments made to a school district under section 6103.25 of the Revised Code when the board establishes rates and other charges for water supplied.

A board may establish discounted rates or charges or may establish another mechanism for providing a reduction in rates or charges for persons who are sixty-five years of age or older. The board shall establish eligibility requirements for such discounted or reduced rates or charges, including a requirement that a person be eligible for the homestead exemption or qualify as a low- and moderate-income person.

(G) When any rates or charges are not paid when due, the board may do any or all of the following:

(1) Certify the unpaid rates or charges, together with any penalties, to the county auditor. The county auditor shall place the certified amount upon the real property tax list and duplicate against the property served by the connection. The certified amount shall be a lien on the property from the date placed on the real property tax list and duplicate and shall be collected in the same manner as taxes, except that, notwithstanding section 323.15 of the Revised Code, a county treasurer shall accept a payment in that amount when separately tendered as payment for the full amount of the unpaid rates or charges and associated penalties. The lien shall be released immediately upon payment in full of the certified amount.

(2) Collect the unpaid rates or charges, together with any penalties, by actions at law in the name of the county from an owner, tenant, or other person or public agency that is liable for the payment of the rates or charges;

(3) Terminate, in accordance with established rules, the water service to the particular property unless and until the unpaid rates or charges, together with any penalties, are paid in full;

(4) Apply, to the extent required, any security deposit made in accordance with established rules to the payment of the unpaid rates and charges, together with any penalties, for water service to the particular property.

All moneys collected as rates, charges, or penalties fixed or established in accordance with division (F) of this section for water supply purposes in or for any sewer district shall be paid to the county treasurer and kept in a separate and distinct water fund established by the board to the credit of the district.

Each board that fixes water rates or charges may render estimated bills periodically, provided that at least quarterly it shall schedule an actual reading of each customer's meter so as to render a bill for the actual amount shown by the meter reading to be due, with credit for prior payments of any estimated bills submitted for any part of the billing period, except that estimated bills may be rendered if a customer's meter is not accessible for a timely reading or if the circumstances preclude a scheduled reading. Each board also shall establish procedures providing a fair and reasonable opportunity for the resolution of billing disputes.

When property to which water service is provided is about to be sold, any party to the sale or an agent of a party may request the board to have the meter at that property read and to render, within ten days following the date on which the request is made, a final bill for all outstanding rates and charges for water service. The request shall be made at least fourteen days prior to the transfer of the title of the property.

At any time prior to a certification under division (G)(1) of this section, the board shall accept any partial payment of unpaid water rates or charges in the amount of ten dollars or more.

Except as otherwise provided in any proceedings authorizing or providing for the security for and payment of any public obligations, or in any indenture or trust or other agreement securing public obligations, moneys in the water fund shall be applied first to the payment of the cost of the management, maintenance, and operation of the water supply facilities of, or used or operated for, the sewer district, which cost may include the county's share of management, maintenance, and operation costs under cooperative contracts for the acquisition, construction, or use of water supply facilities and, in accordance with a cost allocation plan adopted under division (H) of this section, payment of all allowable direct and indirect costs of the district, the county sanitary engineer or sanitary engineering department, or a federal or state grant program, incurred for the purposes of this chapter, and shall be applied second to the payment of debt charges payable on any outstanding public obligations issued or incurred for the acquisition or construction of water supply facilities for or serving the district, or for the funding of a bond retirement or other fund established for the payment of or security for the obligations. Any surplus remaining may be applied to the acquisition or construction of those facilities or for the payment of contributions to be made, or costs incurred, for the acquisition or construction of those facilities under cooperative contracts. Moneys in the water fund shall not be expended other than for the use and benefit of the district.

(H) A board of county commissioners may adopt a cost allocation plan that identifies, accumulates, and distributes allowable direct and indirect costs that may be paid from the water fund of the sewer district created pursuant to division (G) of this section, and that prescribes methods for allocating those costs. The plan shall authorize payment from the fund of only those costs incurred by the district, the county sanitary engineer or sanitary engineering department, or a federal or state grant program, and those costs incurred by the general and other funds of the county for a common or joint purpose, that are necessary and reasonable for the proper and efficient administration of the district under this chapter. The plan shall not authorize payment from the fund of any general government expense required to carry out the overall governmental responsibilities of a county. The plan shall conform to United States office of management and budget Circular A-87, "Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments," published May 17, 1995.

Section 6103.03 | Authority of county commissioners as to facilities within a municipal corporation.
 

The authority of a board of county commissioners to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate water supply facilities for a county sewer district in territory of a municipal corporation, or a regional district established under Chapter 6119. of the Revised Code, that is in whole or in part within the county sewer district is the same as provided by law with respect to territory within a county sewer district that is wholly outside a municipal corporation or a regional district, subject to the following in the case of facilities within a municipal corporation:

(A) The acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of the facilities shall first be authorized by an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

(B) All road surfaces, curbs, sidewalks, sewers, water supply facilities, or other public improvements or property that may be disturbed or damaged by the construction of the facilities shall be replaced or restored within a reasonable time by the county, and the cost shall be treated as a part of the cost of the facilities.

(C) The municipal corporation, with prior approval of or by agreement with the board, may make use of the facilities in accordance with rules established by the board and subject to any applicable requirements of the director of environmental protection.

Section 6103.031 | Contract with township for constructing, maintaining, repairing, or operating water supply improvement.
 

After the establishment of any sewer district, the board of county commissioners may enter into a contract with the board of township trustees of a township located wholly or partly within the district, upon mutually agreed terms, to have the township pay all or any part of the cost of constructing, maintaining, repairing, or operating any water supply improvement that is supplying or will supply water within the limits of the township. This section does not limit or restrict the power of the board of county commissioners to determine how much of the cost of any water supply improvement authorized under this chapter shall be specially assessed upon the benefited properties and to fix and change the rates to be charged for water supplied.

Section 6103.04 | Jurisdiction in area incorporated as or annexed to municipal corporation.
 

(A) Whenever any portion of a county sewer district is incorporated as, or annexed to, a municipal corporation, the area so incorporated or annexed shall remain under the jurisdiction of the board of county commissioners for purposes of the acquisition and construction of water supply improvements until all of the improvements for the area for which a resolution described in division (A) or (E) of section 6103.05 of the Revised Code has been adopted by the board have been acquired or completed or until the board has abandoned the improvements. The board, unless and until a conveyance is made to a municipal corporation in accordance with division (B) of this section, shall continue to have jurisdiction in the area so incorporated or annexed with respect to the management, maintenance, and operation of all water supply improvements so acquired or completed, or previously acquired or completed, including the right to establish rules and rates and charges for the use of, and connections to, the improvements. The incorporation or annexation of any part of a district shall not affect the legality or enforceability of any public obligations issued or incurred by the county for purposes of this chapter to provide for the payment of the cost of acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of any water supply improvements within the area, or the validity of any assessments levied or to be levied upon properties within the area to provide for the payment of the cost of acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of the improvements.

(B) A board may convey, by mutual agreement, to a municipal corporation any completed water supply facilities acquired or constructed by a county under this chapter for the use of, or service of property located in, any county sewer district, or any part of those facilities to which any of the following applies:

(1) The facilities are located within the municipal corporation or within any area that is incorporated as, or annexed to, the municipal corporation.

(2) The facilities provide water for the municipal corporation or any area that is located within or that is incorporated as, or annexed to, the municipal corporation.

(3) The facilities are connected to water supply facilities of the municipal corporation.

The conveyance shall be completed with terms and for consideration as may be negotiated. Upon and after the conveyance, the municipal corporation shall manage, maintain, and operate the facilities in accordance with the agreement. The board may retain the right to joint use of all or part of any facilities so conveyed for the benefit of the district. Neither the validity of any assessment levied or to be levied, nor the legality or enforceability of any public obligations issued or incurred, to provide for the payment of the cost of the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of the facilities or any part of them shall be affected by the conveyance.

Section 6103.05 | General plan of water supply.
 

(A) After the establishment of any county sewer district, the board of county commissioners, if a water supply improvement is to be undertaken, may have the county sanitary engineer prepare, or otherwise cause to be prepared, for the district, or revise as needed, a general plan of water supply that is as complete as can be developed at the time. After the general plan, in original or revised form, has been approved by the board, it may adopt a resolution generally describing the water supply improvement that is necessary to be acquired or constructed in accordance with the plan, declaring that the improvement is necessary for the preservation and promotion of the public health and welfare, and determining whether or not special assessments are to be levied and collected to pay any part of the cost of the improvement.

(B) If special assessments are not to be levied and collected to pay any part of the cost of the improvement, the board, in the resolution provided for in division (A) of this section or in a subsequent resolution, including a resolution authorizing the issuance or incurrence of public obligations for the improvement, may authorize the improvement and the expenditure of the funds required for its acquisition or construction and may proceed with the improvement without regard to the procedures otherwise required by divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section and by sections 6103.06, 6103.07, and 6117.09 to 6117.24 of the Revised Code. Those procedures shall be required only for improvements for which special assessments are to be levied and collected.

(C) If special assessments are to be levied and collected pursuant to a determination made in the resolution provided for in division (A) of this section or in a subsequent resolution, the procedures referred to in division (B) of this section as being required for that purpose shall apply, and the board may have the county sanitary engineer prepare, or otherwise cause to be prepared, detailed plans, specifications, and an estimate of cost for the improvement, together with a tentative assessment of the cost based on the estimate. The tentative assessment shall be for the information of property owners and shall not be levied or certified to the county auditor for collection. The detailed plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and tentative assessment, if approved by the board, shall be carefully preserved in the office of the board or the county sanitary engineer and shall be open to the inspection of all persons interested in the improvement.

(D) After the board's approval of the detailed plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and tentative assessment, and at least twenty-four days before adopting a resolution pursuant to division (E) of this section, the board, except to the extent that appropriate waivers of notice are obtained from affected owners, shall cause to be sent a notice of its intent to adopt a resolution to each owner of property proposed to be assessed that is listed on the records of the county auditor for current agricultural use value taxation pursuant to section 5713.31 of the Revised Code and that is not located in an agricultural district established under section 929.02 of the Revised Code. The notice shall satisfy all of the following:

(1) Be sent by first class or certified mail;

(2) Specify the proposed date of the adoption of the resolution;

(3) Contain a statement that the improvement will be financed in whole or in part by special assessments and that all properties not located in an agricultural district established pursuant to section 929.02 of the Revised Code may be subject to a special assessment;

(4) Contain a statement that an agricultural district may be established by filing an application with the county auditor.

If it appears, by the return of the mailed notices or by other means, that one or more of the affected owners cannot be found or are not served by the mailed notice, the board shall cause the notice to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county not later than ten days before the adoption of the resolution.

(E) After complying with divisions (A), (C), and (D) of this section, the board may adopt a resolution declaring that the improvement, which shall be described as to its nature and its location, route, and termini, is necessary for the preservation and promotion of the public health and welfare, referring to the plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and tentative assessment, stating the place where they are on file and may be examined, and providing that the entire cost or a lesser designated part of the cost will be specially assessed against the benefited properties within the district and that any balance will be paid by the county at large from other available funds. The resolution also shall contain a description of the boundaries of that part of the district to be assessed and shall designate a time and place for objections to the improvement, to the tentative assessment, or to the boundaries of the assessment district to be heard by the board. The date of that hearing shall be not less than twenty-four days after the date of the first publication of the notice of the hearing required by this division.

The board shall cause a notice of the hearing to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, and on or before the date of the second publication, it shall cause to be sent by first class or certified mail a copy of the notice to every owner of property to be assessed for the improvement whose address is known.

The notice shall set forth the time and place of the hearing, a summary description of the proposed improvement, including its general route and termini, a summary description of the area constituting the assessment district, and the place where the plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and tentative assessment are on file and may be examined. Each mailed notice also shall include a statement that the property of the addressee will be assessed for the improvement. The notice also shall be sent by first class or certified mail, on or before the date of the second publication, to the clerk, or the official discharging the duties of a clerk, of any municipal corporation any part of which lies within the assessment district and shall state whether or not any property belonging to the municipal corporation is to be assessed and, if so, shall identify that property.

At the hearing, or at any adjournment of the hearing, of which no further published or mailed notice need be given, the board shall hear all parties whose properties are proposed to be assessed. Written objections to or endorsements of the proposed improvement, its character and termini, the boundaries of the assessment district, or the tentative assessment shall be received by the board for a period of five days after the completion of the hearing, and no action shall be taken by the board in the matter until after that period has elapsed. The minutes of the hearing shall be entered on the journal of the board showing the persons who appear in person or by attorney, and all written objections shall be preserved and filed in the office of the board.

Section 6103.051 | Deferment of collection of assessment.
 

At any time prior to the expiration of the five-day period provided by section 6103.05 of the Revised Code for the filing of written objections, any owner of property to be assessed for an improvement under sections 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code may file with the board of county commissioners a request in writing for deferment of the collection of his assessment. Such request shall identify the property in connection with which the request for deferment is made, shall describe its present use, shall state its estimated market value, showing separately the value of the land and the value of the buildings thereon, shall state the reasons why a portion of the assessment should be deferred, and the amount to be deferred. The board shall promptly consider such request and, if it finds that it will be inequitable to certify the entire amount of such assessment upon completion of the improvement to the county auditor for collection, the board may order that the collection of a portion of such assessment, not exceeding seventy-five per cent thereof, shall be deferred as provided in section 6103.16 of the Revised Code. In determining whether it is inequitable to certify an assessment for immediate collection upon completion of the improvement, the board shall consider as significant the following factors: whether or not the property is presently unimproved; whether or not it is being used for farming or agricultural purposes; the extent to which it is in immediate need of water service; whether the tentative assessment is a disproportionately high percentage of the estimated market value of the property after the improvement will have been completed. All requests for the deferment of the collection of assessments shall be considered by the board before it adopts the improvement resolution provided for by section 6103.06 of the Revised Code, and, if the board orders any part of any assessment to be deferred for collection, the sanitary engineer shall forthwith revise the list of tentative assessments to accord with the order of the board thereby showing the amount of each assessment to be collected upon the completion of the improvement and the amount of each assessment to be deferred for collection. The decision of the board on any request for deferment shall be final and no appeal therefrom may be taken.

The board may, for good cause shown and notwithstanding the failure of a property owner to file such request within the period provided in this section, consider a request for the deferment of an assessment at any time prior to the adoption of the resolution confirming the revised assessment provided for by section 6103.15 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:21 PM

Section 6103.052 | Deferment of collection of assessments for certain lines providing water to industrial or residential developments.
 

(A) At any time prior to the expiration of the five-day period provided by section 6103.05 of the Revised Code for the filing of written objections, any owner of property which is classified on the general tax list of the county auditor as agricultural land and has been assessed for the extension of a main water line over or along such property under sections 6103.02 to 6103.30 of the Revised Code may file with the board of county commissioners a request in writing for deferment of the collection of the owner's assessment if the main water line provides water facilities to aid in the establishment of new industrial plants, the expansion of existing industrial plants, or such other industrial development, or provides water facilities to aid in the establishment of commercial and residential developments. Such request shall identify the property in connection with which the request for deferment is made, shall describe its present use and present classification on the general tax list of the county auditor, shall state its estimated market value, showing separately the value of the land and the value of the buildings thereon, shall state the reasons, if any, why a portion of the benefit of the improvement will not be realized until the use of the land is changed, and shall state the amount to be deferred. The board shall promptly consider such request and may order the deferment of the collection of that portion of the assessment representing a benefit from the improvement that will not be realized until the use of the land is changed. The board may, upon request of an owner whose property has been assessed for the extension of a main water line over or along such property under sections 6103.02 to 6103.31 of the Revised Code, defer all or any part of the assessment on property which is classified on the general tax list of the county auditor as agricultural land, by attributing the amount of such assessment or part thereof as tap-in charges, if the main water line provides water facilities to aid in the establishment of new industrial plants, the expansion of existing industrial plants, or such other industrial development, or provides water facilities to aid in the establishment of commercial and residential developments. Upon determination and approval of final assessments, the board of county commissioners shall certify all deferred assessments and a fee equal to two per cent of the amount of the deferred assessments to the county auditor. For purposes of this section, "assessment," "deferred assessment," or "assessment deferred under this section" mean the fee and the deferred assessment certified to the county auditor. The county auditor shall record an assessment deferred under this section in the water works record. Such record shall be kept until such time as the assessments are paid in full or certified for collection in installments as provided in this section. During the time when the assessment is deferred there shall be a lien on the property assessed, which lien shall arise at the time of recordation by the county auditor and shall be in force until the assessments are paid in full or certified for collection in installments.

(B) The board of county commissioners shall defer the collection of an assessment, except the amount of such assessment or part thereof attributable as tap-in charges, which has been deferred pursuant to division (A) of this section on or before January 1, 1987, beyond the expiration of the maximum time for the original deferment if the property owner requests in writing, no later than six months prior to the expiration of the original deferment, that the assessment be further deferred and as long as the property owner's land could qualify for placement in an agricultural district pursuant to section 929.02 of the Revised Code.

The board shall regularly review the use and ownership of the property for which the collection of assessments has been deferred pursuant to this division, and upon finding that the land could no longer qualify for placement in an agricultural district pursuant to section 929.02 of the Revised Code, the board shall immediately collect, without interest, the full amount of the assessment deferred.

(C) The board of county commissioners shall send a notice by regular or certified mail to all owners of property on which assessments have been deferred pursuant to division (A) of this section, which lists the expiration of the deferment, not later than two hundred ten days prior to the expiration of the deferment of those assessments.

(D) The board shall collect the assessments, without interest, which have been deferred pursuant to division (A) of this section upon expiration of the maximum time for which deferments were made; provided, that for a property owner who requests in writing, no later than six months prior to the expiration of the deferment period, that payment of the owner's deferred assessments be in installments, the board of county commissioners upon expiration of the deferment period may by resolution further certify for collection pursuant to section 6103.16 of the Revised Code, such deferred assessments in installments over not more than twenty years, as determined by the board, together with interest thereon each year on the unpaid balance at the same rate borne by bonds of the county which shall be issued in anticipation thereof as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

Assessments which have been deferred by attribution as tap-in charges under division (A) of this section shall be collected as deferred assessments at that time. An owner of property for which assessments have been deferred under division (A) of this section, in requesting a tap-in may, subject to the approval of the board, designate a part of an entire assessed tract as the part which the tap-in is to serve, and the board shall collect the deferred assessment on that tract in the proportion that the part bears to the entire tract, on a front foot or other basis approved by the commission, but if in the judgment of the board the tap-in is reasonably intended to serve the entire tract or substantially all of the tract, it shall collect the deferred assessment for the entire tract.

Prior to the expiration of the maximum time of deferment, the board shall regularly review the use of the property for which the collection of assessments has been deferred and upon finding that the use of the land has changed from the use at the time of the deferment so that the benefit of the improvement can then be realized, the board shall immediately collect the full amount of the assessment for the portion of the property for which the use has so changed, without interest.

Section 6103.06 | Proceedings for water supply improvements.
 

After the expiration of the period of five days provided in section 6103.05 of the Revised Code for the filing of written objections, the board of county commissioners shall determine whether it will proceed with the construction of the proposed improvement. If it decides to proceed therewith, the board shall ratify or amend the plans for the improvement, the character and termini thereof, the boundaries of the assessment district, and the tentative assessment, and may cause such revision of plans, boundaries, or assessments as is necessary to be made by the county sanitary engineer. If the boundaries of the assessment district are amended so as to include any property not included within the boundaries as established by the resolution of necessity, provided for in section 6103.05 of the Revised Code, the owners of all such property shall be notified by mail if their addresses are known, and notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, that such amendments have been adopted and that a hearing will be given by the board at a time and place stated in such notice at which all persons interested will be heard by the board. The date of such hearing shall be not less than twenty-four days after the first publication of such notice, and the hearing shall be conducted and records kept in the same manner as the first hearing. Five days shall be allowed for the filing of written objections as provided in section 6103.05 of the Revised Code for the first hearing and after the expiration of such fiveday period the board shall ratify the plans for the improvement, the character and termini thereof, the boundaries of the assessment district, and the tentative assessment, or shall further amend the same. If the boundaries of the assessment district are amended so as to include any property not included in the assessment district as originally established or previously amended, further notice and hearing shall be given to the owners of such property in the same manner as for the first amendment of such boundaries, and the same procedure shall be repeated until all property owners affected have been given an opportunity to be heard. If the owners of all property added to an assessment district by amendment of the original boundaries thereof waive objection to such amendment in writing, no further notice or hearing shall be given. After the board has ratified the plans for the improvement, the character and termini thereof, the boundaries of the assessment district, and the tentative assessment, either as originally presented or as amended, and if it decides to proceed therewith, the board shall adopt a resolution, to be known as the improvement resolution. Said improvement resolution shall declare the determination of such board to proceed with the construction of the improvement provided for in the resolution of necessity, in accordance with the plans and specification provided for such improvement, as ratified or amended, and whether bonds or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued in anticipation of the collection of special assessments, or that money in the county treasury unappropriated for any other purpose shall be appropriated to pay for said improvement.

Section 6103.07 | Beginning construction of water supply improvement.
 

After the adoption of a resolution to proceed with an improvement as provided in section 6103.06 of the Revised Code, the construction of the improvement shall be deferred until ten days have elapsed. If, at the expiration of that period, no appeal has been effected by any property owner as provided in sections 6117.09 to 6117.24 of the Revised Code, the action of the board of county commissioners shall be final, and the board may proceed to issue or incur public obligations and construct the improvement. If, at the end of that ten days, any owner of property to be assessed for the improvement has effected an appeal, the construction of the improvement shall be deferred until the matters appealed from have been disposed of in court.

Section 6103.08 | Funding construction, maintenance, repairing, or operating water supply improvements.
 

The board of county commissioners may pay a part or the whole of the cost of construction, maintenance, repairing, or operating any improvements provided for in this chapter, including the payment of the county sanitary engineer and his assistants and other necessary expenses. Such expenses, insofar as they relate to the construction of any permanent improvement, may be considered as a part of the cost of such improvement, and bonds may be issued therefor. Bonds and notes in anticipation thereof, including bonds issued in anticipation of the collection of assessments deferred pursuant to sections 6103.051 and 6103.16 of the Revised Code, may be issued by the board pursuant to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, to finance any such improvement; provided that where a separate issue of bonds is issued in anticipation of the collection of deferred assessments, the first principal maturity of such bonds may be not later than five years from the date of such bonds. Bonds issued in anticipation of the collection of assessments deferred pursuant to sections 6103.051 and 6103.16 of the Revised Code and notes issued in anticipation of such bonds shall be considered for all purposes under this chapter and Chapter 133. of the Revised Code as being bonds or notes issued in anticipation of the levy or collection of special assessments.

Section 6103.081 | Construction of water and sewer improvements.
 

(A) After the establishment of any county sewer district, the board of county commissioners may determine by resolution that it is necessary to provide water supply improvements and to maintain and operate the improvements within the district or a designated portion of the district, that the improvements, which shall be generally described in the resolution, shall be constructed, that funds are required to pay the preliminary costs of the improvements to be incurred prior to the commencement of the proceedings for their construction, and that those funds shall be provided in accordance with this section.

(B) Prior to the adoption of the resolution, the board shall give notice of its pendency and of the proposed determination of the necessity of the improvements generally described in the resolution. The notice shall set forth a description of the properties to be benefited by the improvements and the time and place of a hearing of objections to and endorsements of the improvements. The notice shall be given either by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for two consecutive weeks, by publication as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, or by mailing a copy of the notice by first class or certified mail to the owners of the properties proposed to be assessed at their respective tax mailing addresses, or by a combination of these manners, the first publication to be made or the mailing to occur at least two weeks prior to the date set for the hearing. At the hearing, or at any adjournment of the hearing, of which no further published or mailed notice need be given, the board shall hear all persons whose properties are proposed to be assessed and the evidence it considers to be necessary. The board then shall determine the necessity of the proposed improvements and whether the improvements shall be made by the board and, if they are to be made, shall direct the preparation of tentative assessments upon the benefited properties and by whom they shall be prepared.

(C) In order to obtain funds for the preparation of a general or revised general plan of water supply for the district or part of the district, for the preparation of the detailed plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and tentative assessment for the proposed improvements, and for the cost of financing and legal services incident to the preparation of all of those plans and a plan of financing the proposed improvements, the board may levy upon the properties to be benefited in the district a preliminary assessment apportioned according to benefits or to tax valuation or partly by one method and partly by the other method as the board may determine. The assessments shall be in the amount determined to be necessary to obtain funds for the general and detailed plans and the cost of financing and legal services and shall be payable in the number of years that the board shall determine, not to exceed twenty years, together with interest on any public obligations that may be issued or incurred in anticipation of the collection of the assessments.

(D) The board shall have power at any time to levy additional assessments according to benefits or to tax valuation or partly by one method and partly by the other method as the board may determine for the purposes described in division (C) of this section upon the benefited properties to complete the payment of the costs described in division (C) of this section or to pay the cost of any additional plans, specifications, estimate of cost, or tentative assessment and the cost of financing and legal services incident to the preparation of those plans and the plan of financing, which additional assessments shall be payable in the number of years that the board shall determine, not to exceed twenty years, together with interest on any public obligations that may be issued or incurred in anticipation of the collection of the additional assessments.

(E) Prior to the adoption of a resolution levying assessments under this section, the board shall give notice either by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, or by mailing a copy of the notice by first class or certified mail to the owners of the properties proposed to be assessed at their respective tax mailing addresses, or by both manners, the publication to be made or the mailing to occur at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting at which the resolution shall be taken up for consideration; that notice shall state the time and place of the meeting at which the resolution is to be considered. At the time and place of the meeting, or at any adjournment of the meeting, of which no further published or mailed notice need be given, the board shall hear all persons whose properties are proposed to be assessed, shall correct any errors and make any revisions that appear to be necessary or just, and then may adopt a resolution levying upon the properties determined to be benefited the assessments as so corrected and revised.

The assessments levied by the resolution shall be certified to the county auditor for collection in the same manner as taxes in the year or years in which they are payable.

(F) Upon the adoption of the resolution described in division (E) of this section, no further action shall be taken or work done until ten days have elapsed. If, at the expiration of that period, no appeal has been effected by any property owner as provided in this division, the action of the board shall be final. If, at the end of that ten days, any owner of property to be assessed for the improvements has effected an appeal, no further action shall be taken and no work done in connection with the improvements under the resolution until the matters appealed from have been disposed of in court.

Any owner of property to be assessed may appeal as provided and upon the grounds stated in sections 6117.09 to 6117.24 of the Revised Code.

If no appeal has been perfected or if on appeal the resolution of the board is sustained, the board may authorize and enter into contracts to carry out the purpose for which the assessments have been levied without the prior issuance of notes, provided that the payments under those contracts do not fall due prior to the time by which the assessments are to be collected. The board may issue and sell bonds with a maximum maturity of twenty years in anticipation of the collection of the assessments and may issue notes in anticipation of the issuance of the bonds, which notes and bonds, as public obligations, shall be issued and sold as provided in Chapter 133. of the Revised Code.

Section 6103.10 | Contract for construction of improvements.
 

After the issuance and sale of bonds or certificates of indebtedness, as provided in sections 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall enter into a written contract in accordance with sections 307.86 to 307.92, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

The contract shall be between the board and the bidder, and the board shall pay the contract price in cash. Such payment may be made in proper installments as the work progresses. When there is reason to believe that there is collusion or combination among the bidders, the bids of those concerned therein shall be rejected. Whenever it becomes necessary in the opinion of such board, in the prosecution of any such work or improvements, to make alterations or modifications in such contract, such alterations or modifications shall only be made by such board by resolution. Such resolution shall be of no effect until the prices to be paid for work or material, or both, caused by such alterations or modifications, have been agreed upon in writing and signed by the contractor and said board. No contractor for any such work may recover anything for additional work or materials required by any alterations or modifications nor for any other cause due to such alterations or modifications unless such contract is made as provided in this section, nor shall he in any event recover for such work or materials, or other cause, more than the agreed price. The money derived from the lawfully authorized bonds or certificates sold as provided in section 6103.08 of the Revised Code shall not thereafter be considered unappropriated until the county is fully discharged from such contract.

Section 6103.101 | Board of county commissioners contract requirements.
 

Notwithstanding sections 307.86 and 6103.10 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners may comply with section 9.29 of the Revised Code regarding any contract for the engineering, repair, sustainability, water quality management, and maintenance of a water storage tank and appurtenant facilities.

Section 6103.11 | Petition by landowners for improvement of water supply system.
 

Whenever the owners of all the lots and lands to be assessed for any water supply improvement provided for in this chapter, by petition in writing, request the board of county commissioners to provide for the acquisition or construction, maintenance, and operation of the improvement, describing the improvement and the lots and lands owned by them respectively to be assessed to pay the cost of acquisition or construction, maintenance, and operation of the improvement and consenting that their lots and lands may be assessed to pay the cost of the acquisition or construction of the improvement and of its maintenance and operation as provided in this chapter, and waive all legal notices otherwise required, the board may have the county sanitary engineer prepare, or otherwise cause to be prepared, the necessary plans, specifications, and estimate of cost of the acquisition or construction, maintenance, and operation of the improvement and a tentative assessment. When the owners state, in writing, that they have examined the estimate of cost and tentative assessment, that they have no objections to them, and that, in case bonds are proposed to be issued prior to the acquisition or construction of the improvement, they waive their right or option to pay the assessments in cash, the board may proceed as provided in this chapter to cause the improvement to be acquired or constructed and to cause provision to be made for the payment of the cost of its acquisition or construction, maintenance, and operation, except that none of the notices otherwise required by law need be given and no opportunity need be provided for the filing of objections to the improvement, its character and termini, the boundaries of the assessment district, or the tentative assessment or, if bonds are issued prior to the acquisition or construction of the improvement, for paying the assessments in cash. The board may proceed to issue or incur public obligations in the required amount, complete the acquisition or construction of the improvement, and levy and collect the assessments authorized by this chapter. No person or public agency shall have the right to appeal from any decision or action of the board in the matter except refusal by the board to proceed with the improvement.

The tentative assessment provided for in this section shall be for the information of property owners and shall not be levied or certified to the county auditor for collection. On completion of the improvement, its cost shall be determined, and the county sanitary engineer shall prepare, or otherwise cause to the be prepared, a revised assessment based on the actual cost and in substantially the same proportion as the tentative assessment. The board shall confirm and levy the revised assessment and certify it to the county auditor for collection.

Section 6103.12 | Cost incident to improvement.
 

The cost of any improvement provided for in this chapter and the cost of its maintenance and operation shall include, in addition to the cost of its acquisition or construction, the cost of engineering, necessary publications, inspection, interest on public obligations, and all other items of cost incident to the improvement as described in division (B) of section 133.15 of the Revised Code. The county may pay from available county funds any part of the cost of the improvement and any part of the cost of its maintenance and operation if the board of county commissioners considers the payment to be just.

Section 6103.13 | Cost assessment.
 

The cost of the acquisition or construction of water supply facilities to be paid by assessments shall be assessed, as an assessment district assessment, upon all the property within the county sewer district found to be benefited in accordance with the special benefits conferred, less any part of the cost that is paid by the county at large from other available funds. State land so benefited shall bear its portion of the assessed cost.

Section 6103.14 | Cost ascertainment.
 

Upon the completion of any improvement under sections 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the actual cost thereof shall be ascertained and to such actual cost shall be added an amount equal to the interest accrued and to accrue upon certificates of indebtedness and upon bonds authorized by such sections before the first installment of such assessment is collected and the sum so arising, less the portion thereof to be paid by the county at large, shall be assessed against the lots and parcels of land within such district found to be benefited by such improvement. The amount assessed against any lot or parcel of land may be paid within thirty days from the confirmation of the assessments as provided in such sections. If such assessment is five dollars or less, or whenever the unpaid balance of any such assessment is five dollars or less, the same shall be paid in full and not in installments at the time the first or next installment would otherwise become due. For the purpose of paying the sanitary engineer and for paying his assistants and all of his other necessary expenses and for the purpose of paying that part of the cost of the improvement to be paid by the county or of the interest to accrue thereon, the board of county commissioners may levy taxes, in addition to all other taxes authorized by law. Such levy shall be subject to all the limitations provided by law upon the aggregate amount, rate, maximum rate, and combined maximum rate of taxation.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:21 PM

Section 6103.15 | Revised assessment - additional assessment.
 

The county sanitary engineer, upon the completion of any improvement in accordance with this chapter, shall prepare, or otherwise cause to be prepared, and shall present to the board of county commissioners a revised assessment based on the tentative assessment previously ratified by the board for the improvement or, if the tentative assessment has been revised by order of court, based on the revised tentative assessment, the assessment levied on each piece of property being modified in substantially the same proportion as the actual cost of the improvement, including incidental costs, bears to the estimated cost on which the tentative assessment was based. No notice of the revised assessment shall be given unless the actual cost exceeds the estimated cost. If the actual cost exceeds the estimated cost, notice shall be given to all property owners within the assessment district and shall be published as provided by section 6103.06 of the Revised Code for amendments of the tentative assessment, and any property owner may appeal as provided for in the case of a tentative assessment. The board shall confirm the revised assessment, and, when so confirmed, it shall be final and conclusive. If an appeal has been made, that confirmation shall be subject to the finding of the court.

The board, at intervals it considers expedient, may levy an additional assessment on the lots and parcels of land assessed for the improvement, including state land, in order to pay the cost of the maintenance, repair, and operation of the improvement after its completion. No further notice of that additional assessment shall be necessary unless the amount of it exceeds ten per cent of the original cost of acquiring or constructing the improvement. If that additional assessment exceeds ten per cent of the original cost of acquiring or constructing the improvement, the method and manner of making that additional assessment, together with the notice of it, shall be the same as provided in this chapter for the original assessment. That additional assessment shall be subject to any applicable provisions of section 6103.16 of the Revised Code, provided that the assessment may bear interest at a rate that the board determines to be appropriate.

Section 6103.16 | Assessments certified.
 

On or before the second Monday in September, annually, the board of county commissioners shall certify to the county auditor all of the assessments provided for in sections 6103.06 to 6103.15 of the Revised Code, including all assessments deferred pursuant to section 6103.051 of the Revised Code, stating the amounts and time of payment thereof, and in accordance therewith the auditor shall record the same in a book to be known as the "water-works record" of said county, showing separately the assessments to be collected forthwith and the assessments whose collection has been deferred by the board pursuant to section 6103.051 of the Revised Code. Such assessments, including the assessments deferred by the board pursuant to section 6103.051 of the Revised Code, shall bear interest at the same rate that the bonds authorized by such sections bear, and are a lien upon the lots and lands so assessed from the date of such record until such assessment is paid, and shall be collected in annual or semiannual installments within a period of not more than twenty years, provided that interest on deferred assessments shall terminate when all of the bonds issued by the board in anticipation of the collection of such deferred assessments have been paid in full. The several installments of such assessments which have not been deferred for collection pursuant to section 6103.051 of the Revised Code and interest on deferred assessments shall be placed upon the tax duplicate of the county for collection as they become due commencing with the first duplicate prepared after the assessments have been so certified, and shall be collected the same as other taxes, and shall be subject to the same penalties and interest. In case bonds have not been sold to pay the cost of the improvement, the amount assessed against any lot or parcel of land may be paid within thirty days from the confirmation of the revised assessment. The board shall, annually, during the month of August, review all assessments which have been deferred for collection pursuant to section 6103.051 of the Revised Code as shown upon the auditor's "water-works record" and shall determine whether, in view of changed circumstances concerning the property since the date of the original deferment, it is no longer inequitable to certify such assessment or any portion thereof to the county auditor for collection. On or before the second Monday in September, annually, the board shall direct the county auditor to place on the tax duplicate for collection such deferred assessments or portions thereof as the board determines should no longer be deferred, or which the property owner has requested to be collected, and thereupon the county auditor shall place the same upon the first duplicate prepared by him thereafter and shall collect the same as other taxes in such number of annual or semiannual installments within a period of not more than twenty years as directed by the board, provided that the number of installments shall not be less than that required to coincide with the remaining principal payments on the bonds issued in anticipation of the collection of such assessments and in no event shall the payment period be less than five years. On or before the second Monday of September of the twentieth year following the adoption of the resolution confirming the revised assessment, the board shall direct the county auditor to place on the tax duplicate for collection all deferred assessments or parts thereof confirmed by such resolution which the board has not theretofore directed the auditor to collect, and thereupon the auditor shall place the same upon the first tax duplicate prepared by him thereafter and shall collect the same as other taxes in such number of annual or semiannual installments within a period of not more than twenty and not less than five years as directed by the board. All assessments when collected, together with all interest thereon, shall be applied respectively to the purposes for which such assessments have been made and to no other purpose, provided that any installments of deferred assessments collected by the treasurer subsequent to the retirement of the bonds issued in anticipation of the collection of such deferred assessments, shall be allocated by him to the several county funds, including the special fund provided for by section 6103.02 of the Revised Code, in proportion to their respective contributions to the retirement and discharge of such bonds.

Section 6103.17 | Finding and order for corrective action to remedy unsafe water supply conditions.
 

Whenever the legislative authority or board of health, or the officers performing the duties of a legislative authority or board of health, of a municipal corporation, the board of health of a general health district, or a board of township trustees makes complaint, in writing, to the environmental protection agency that unsafe water supply conditions exist in any county, the agency's director forthwith shall inquire into and investigate the conditions complained of. If, upon investigation of the complaint, the director finds that it is necessary for the public health and welfare that water supply facilities be acquired or constructed, maintained, and operated to serve any territory outside municipal corporations in any county, the director shall notify the board of county commissioners of the county of that finding and order that corrective action be taken. The board shall obey the order and proceed as provided in this chapter and section 6117.01 of the Revised Code to establish a county sewer district, if required, to provide the necessary funds, to acquire or construct the facilities, and to maintain and operate the facilities, as required by the order and in a manner that is satisfactory to the director. Any part or all of the cost of the facilities or of the maintenance and operation of the facilities may be assessed upon the benefited properties as provided in this chapter.

Section 6103.19 | Writ of mandamus.
 

If the board of county commissioners fails, after a period of thirty days, after the notice and order given it by the director of environmental protection to perform any act required of it by sections 6103.02 to 6103.30 of the Revised Code, and by any such order and notice of the director, such order of the director may be enforced by a writ of mandamus issued by any court authorized to issue such writ.

Section 6103.20 | Supplying water outside district.
 

(A) At any time after the formation of any county sewer district, the board of county commissioners, when it considers it appropriate, on application by a person or public agency for the supply of water to properties of that person or public agency located outside of the district, may contract with the person or public agency for supplying water to those properties from water supply facilities acquired or constructed or to be acquired or constructed by the county to serve the district, on terms that the board considers equitable. The amount to be paid by the person or public agency to reimburse the county for costs of acquiring or constructing those facilities shall not be less than the original or comparable assessment for similar property within the district or, in the absence of an original or comparable assessment, an amount that is found by the board to be reasonable and fairly reflective of that portion of the cost of those facilities attributable to the properties to be served. The board shall appropriate any moneys received for that service to and for the use and benefit of the district. The board may collect the amount to be paid by the person or public agency in full, in cash or in installments as a part of a connection charge to be collected in accordance with division (F) of section 6103.02 of the Revised Code, or, if the properties to be served are located within the county, the same amount may be assessed against those properties, and, in that event, the manner of making the assessment, together with the notice of it, shall be as provided in this chapter.

(B) Whenever water supply facilities have been acquired or constructed by, and at the expense of, a person or public agency and the board considers it appropriate to acquire the facilities or any part of them for the purpose of supplying water to territory within a county sewer district, the county sanitary engineer, at the direction of the board, shall examine the facilities. If the county sanitary engineer finds the facilities properly designed and constructed, the county sanitary engineer shall certify that fact to the board. The board may determine to purchase the facilities or any part of them at a cost that, after consultation with the county sanitary engineer, it finds to be reasonable.

Subject to and in accordance with this division and division (B) or divisions (C), (D), and (E) of section 6103.05 of the Revised Code, the board may purchase the facilities or any part of them by negotiation. For the purpose of paying the cost of their acquisition, the board may issue or incur public obligations and assess the entire cost, or a lesser designated part of the cost, of their acquisition against the benefited properties in the manner provided in this chapter for the construction of original or comparable facilities.

Section 6103.21 | Contracts with other public agencies.
 

At any time after the formation of any county sewer district, the board of county commissioners may enter into a contract, upon the terms and for the period of time that is mutually agreed upon, with any other public agency to prepare all necessary plans and estimates of cost and to acquire or construct any water supply facilities that are to be used jointly by the contracting parties, and to provide for the furnishing of water and for the maintenance, operation, and joint use by the contracting parties of those water supply facilities or the maintenance, operation, and joint use of any suitable existing water supply or water supply facilities belonging to either of the contracting parties.

Section 6103.22 | Provisions in contracts with other public agencies.
 

All contracts under section 6103.21 of the Revised Code shall provide for the payment of compensation to the county or other public agency owning, acquiring, or constructing, or agreeing to acquire or construct, the water supply facilities to be jointly used in an amount agreed upon as the other party's share of the cost of acquiring or constructing the facilities. The contract also shall provide for payment of compensation to the county or other public agency owning, acquiring, or constructing the facilities and operating and maintaining them in an amount agreed upon as the other party's share of the cost of operating and maintaining them, including the cost of water or, in lieu of all other or differing payments, an agreed price per unit for water furnished. A county or other public agency owning, acquiring, or constructing, or agreeing to acquire or construct , any water supply facilities and agreeing to their use by another public agency shall retain full control and management of the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of the facilities, unless otherwise provided in the contract and except, in the case of a county, when conveyed to a municipal corporation as provided in division (B) of section 6103.04 of the Revised Code.

Section 6103.23 | Payment for joint use of any water supply facilities.
 

A county or other public agency contracting as provided in sections 6103.21 and 6103.22 of the Revised Code for the joint use of any water supply facilities acquired or constructed, or to be acquired or constructed, by another public agency may provide for payment of the agreed compensation by the levy of taxes or special assessments or from water rates and charges, if and to the extent that the public agency is authorized by the laws governing it in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of water supply facilities to provide for payment of costs in respect of which the compensation is due from those sources, and may issue or incur public obligations as provided by those laws and pay the debt charges on those obligations from those sources, if and to the extent so authorized.

Section 6103.24 | Crediting payment to proper fund.
 

A county or other public agency receiving the compensation provided for in section 6103.22 of the Revised Code shall credit the amount so received to the proper fund to be used for the acquisition, construction, or operation and maintenance, as the case may be, of water supply facilities or for other authorized purposes.

Section 6103.25 | Acquisition or appropriation of property.
 

Whenever, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners, it is necessary to acquire real estate or any interest in real estate for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of any water supply facilities authorized by this chapter, or to acquire the right to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate those facilities in and upon any property within or outside of a county sewer district, it may purchase the real estate, interest in real estate, or right by negotiation. If the board and the owner of the real estate, interest in real estate, or right are unable to agree upon its purchase and sale, or the amount of damages to be awarded for it, the board may appropriate the real estate, interest, or right in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code, except that the board, in the exercise of the powers granted by this section or any other section of this chapter, may not appropriate real estate or personal property owned by a municipal corporation.

If the board purchases or appropriates real estate, an interest in real estate, or a right pursuant to this section and the real estate, interest in real estate, or right was subject to real or personal property taxes prior to the purchase or appropriation, the board may make payments to a school district of all or a portion of the amount of the taxes that otherwise would have been received by the district if the purchase or appropriation had not occurred. The payments shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the board.

As used in this section, "school district" means a "city school district" as defined in section 3311.02 of the Revised Code, a "local school district" as defined in section 3311.03 of the Revised Code, an "exempted village school district" as defined in section 3311.04 of the Revised Code, and a "joint vocational school district" as defined in section 3311.18 of the Revised Code.

Section 6103.26 | Constructing water main within boundaries of municipal corporation.
 

Whenever in the opinion of the board of county commissioners it becomes necessary to construct a water main within the boundaries of a municipal corporation for the service of one or more sewer districts wholly outside of such municipal corporation, the board may construct such main in the streets and alleys of such municipal corporation but shall restore all such streets and alleys to their original condition, and the cost thereof shall be a part of the cost of such main. Prior to the preparation of plans for such improvement, such municipal corporation shall be given an opportunity to co-operate in the construction and use of such water main as provided in this section and section 6103.03 of the Revised Code.

Section 6103.27 | Bond are binding obligations.
 

All bonds and certificates of indebtedness issued under authority of sections 6117.01 to 6117.45, inclusive, and 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, prior to May 10, 1927, which have been sold for not less than par and accrued interest and the proceeds thereof paid into the treasury, are binding obligations of the political subdivision issuing the same, without regard to whether any special assessments anticipated by such bonds were made prior to the issuance thereof.

Section 6103.28 | Proceedings prior to May 10, 1927 are valid.
 

All proceedings for the creation of sewer districts and for construction of sewer and water improvements under sections 6117.01 to 6117.45, inclusive, and 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, prior to May 10, 1927, and all petitions granted, or the letting or awarding of contracts, or all contracts made and entered into, or proceedings preliminary to or in connection therewith, or certificates of indebtedness or bonds issued or to be issued or taxes and assessments levied or to be levied on account thereof, are hereby declared to be valid notwithstanding any defect or irregularity therein or any failure to conform strictly to sections 6117.01 to 6117.45, inclusive, and 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code. In any proposed district where the contract has not yet been let, the proceedings shall not be ratified unless state land to be benefited shall be included therein, with the power to assess such state land in proportion to its benefits the same as land privately owned, including the cost of preliminary surveys. Boards of county commissioners or other officials may complete all improvements in process of construction under such sections, levy taxes and assessments for such improvements, sell bonds to pay for the construction of such improvements, and do all things contemplated by such sections necessary for the completion of such improvements.

Section 6103.29 | Public water supply - prohibited acts.
 

No person or public agency shall tamper with or damage any water supply facility acquired or constructed by a county under this chapter or any apparatus or accessory connected with it or pertaining to it, or make any connection into or with the water supply facility, without the permission of the board of county commissioners or in a manner or for a use other than as prescribed by the board. No person or public agency shall refuse to permit the inspection by the county sanitary engineer of any such connection or willfully cause the pollution of any water supply. No person or public agency shall violate any other provision of this chapter. All fines collected under section 6103.99 of the Revised Code shall be paid to the county treasurer and credited to the fund that the board determines to be most appropriate after consideration of the nature and extent of the particular violations.

Section 6103.30 | Recovery of fines or forfeitures.
 

An action may be commenced and prosecuted for the recovery of any fine or forfeiture mentioned in sections 6103.02 to 6103.30, inclusive, of the Revised code, from any person liable therefor, by the prosecuting attorney of the proper county in the name of the state, in the court of common pleas of such county, or such action may be commenced and prosecuted by the attorney general in such county or in Franklin county, as provided by law.

Section 6103.31 | Water supply facilities sale or disposition.
 

(A) If the board of county commissioners determines by resolution that the best interests of the county and the users of water supply facilities of the county serving a sewer district so require, the board may sell or otherwise dispose of the facilities to another public agency or a person. The resolution declaring the necessity of that disposition shall recite the reasons for the sale or other disposition and shall establish any conditions or terms that the board may impose, including, but not limited to, a minimum sales price if a sale is proposed, a requirement for the submission by bidders of the schedule of water rates and charges initially proposed to be paid by the users of the facilities, and other pertinent conditions or terms relating to the sale or other disposition. The resolution also shall designate a time and place for the hearing of objections to the sale or other disposition by the board. Notice of the adoption of the resolution and the time and place of the hearing shall be published as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, or once a week for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in the sewer district and in the county. The public hearing on the sale or other disposition shall be held not less than twenty-four days following the date of first publication of the notice. A copy of the notice also shall be sent by first class or certified mail, on or before the date of the second publication, to any public agency within the area served by the facilities. At the public hearing, or at any adjournment of it, of which no further published or mailed notice need be given, the board shall hear all interested parties. A period of five days shall be given following the completion of the hearing for the filing of written objections by any interested persons or public agencies to the sale or other disposition, after which the board shall consider any objections and by resolution determine whether or not to proceed with the sale or other disposition. If the board determines to proceed with the sale or other disposition, it shall receive bids after advertising once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code and, subject to the right of the board to reject any or all bids, may make an award to a responsible bidder whose proposal is determined by the board to be in the best interests of the county and the users of the facilities.

(B) A conveyance of water supply facilities by a county to a municipal corporation, in accordance with division (B) of section 6103.04 of the Revised Code, may be made without regard to division (A) of this section.

Section 6103.40 | Amendments to chapter are subject to 4 of HB 549 of the 123rd General Assembly.
 

It is the intent of the general assembly that the amendments made to this chapter by Sub. H.B. 549 of the 123rd general assembly are subject to Section 4 of that act. This section does not affect the application of Section 3 of that act to Sections 1 and 2 of that act.

Section 6103.99 | Penalty.
 

(A) Whoever violates section 6103.29 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.