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WASHINGTONVILLE--With nearly half the funding in place for the estimated $1.2 million water tower project, village council's next step is choosing an engineering consultant to design the structure.
That's the most immediate task that needs completed, according to Joseph Lawrie, senior rural development specialist with the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP), who outlined the proposed project schedule for council members Monday.
Fiscal Officer Dale Davis said he already has one Statement of Qualifications from Engineering Associates of Wooster, the firm that prepared the preliminary cost estimate for replacing the water tower.
He plans to try to contact Howells & Baird of Salem today for its Statement of Qualifications so village council can make a choice at the Jan. 18 meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. at village hall.
The village learned recently that besides qualifying for a $60,000 design loan through the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA), the project qualified for a $500,000 grant through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Lawrie said there's also potential for the village to secure up to $500,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program. He said there's no guarantee, but a CDBG official
indicated the project has good potential for approval under the critical infrastructure program.
If everything falls into place, construction could begin in spring 2022.
What's critical now, though, he explained, is getting the consultant hired to design the tower and get the plan submitted for approval by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by March or April because that's necessary for the CDBG application.
If the village secured the CDBG funding to go with the OWDA loan and OPWC grant, that would leave roughly $200,000 for the village to finance. The estimated average increased cost per month per customer would be $1.85. Without the CDBG funding, the village would need to finance or borrow $700,000. That would mean an estimated average cost increase of $6.48 per month per customer.
The best scenario would be having nearly $1 million of the $1.2 million in place. Lawrie said a few things could derail that goal, such as not getting the plan approved on schedule. He did say a request would need made to the OPWC to hold the grant funding for next year.
Councilman Al Vignon asked how long the construction would take and whether the existing tower is good enough to last.
Superintendent of Utilities Brian Gudat said he hopes it lasts that long. Lawrie said the cost for rehabbing the existing tower was $700,000. With a new tower, the height can be raised to alleviate pressure problems.
"What's the life expectancy on new towers?" Councilman Eric Sobek asked.
Gudat said as long as the tower is maintained properly, it should last quite a long time.
"Bottom line, this is a really good opportunity," Lawrie said.
In a related matter, council approved a resolution to adopt and approve a personnel policy and procedures manual, including a drug free safety policy and a cell phone policy. The OEPA wanted the policies and procedures manual in place by the end of the year
Council also approved appropriations for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act money, final appropriations for expenses for 2020 and temporary appropriations to start 2021.