The city of Sharon has a serious problem with Brookfield's failing septic systems and the sewage backup resulting from them. So does the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Since Sharon government officials have taken legal action to force Trumbull County to address the issue, county officials are anxious to fix the problem by constructing sanitary sewers in the township's West Hill area -- which includes Atlantic, Boyd, Diamond, Meek and Pacific streets; Warren-Sharon Road, east of Yankee Creek; and Gaylord, Grover, Kimberly, Linden, Brightview and Owsley avenues.

"The West Hill sewer project is the highest priority project in the county right now," said Alan Knapp, of the Trumbull County Planning Commission.

Trustees and county officials want to apply for Community Development Block Grant funds to pay for about a third of the $2 million project.

Knapp said the county needs residents to return income surveys that are essential to securing the competitive funding.

"We need help from the residents," he said.

The sanitary engineer's office has already received $400,000 and the county wants to apply for CDBG funds totaling $600,000.

In order to qualify for the grant, 51 percent of households need to be considered low- to moderate-income, but a survey done May 1 only resulted in 46 completed surveys out of a possible 178 homes.

Wednesday, West Hill residents asked township officials to explain the specifics of the income survey during a special meeting held at the township administration building.

Plenty of extra surveys were on hand, and residents living in the area had the chance to fill them out on the spot.

The CDBG money would be used to absorb costs associated with construction of the main sewer line, tap-in fees and laterals for low- to moderate-income property owners, said Trustee Gary Lees.

Wednesday's meeting netted about 45 more surveys.

But before they filled out any surveys, a few residents made their opinions known.

Susan Steach, a Grover Street resident, said that while she feels sewer construction is necessary, she is concerned about what the project will eventually cost the residents.

"I agree with sewers. I live on Grover ... and our street stinks," she said. "(But) if you don't have the money (to pay for the sewers), where do you get it from?"