SALEM — The Salem Utilities Commission named a new utilities superintendent in its July meeting.

Butch Donnalley, who has served as the assistant superintendent since 2020, was officially named utilities superintendent retroactive to July 9, when he took up the position upon the retirement of long-serving superintendent Don Weingart, who had 71 years of dedicated service. Donnalley had already been managing day-to-day operations at the department since the commission’s April meeting.

With over 46 years of utilities experience, and certifications for operator level 3 for both water and wastewater, Donnalley has been overseeing special projects for the Salem Utilities Department since October of 2019; and previously worked afternoon shift at the Salem wastewater treatment plant from 1994 to 2006.

Donnalley began his utilities career for Leetonia in August 1975. While there Donnalley served as the village’s utilities superintendent from 1985 to 1986, before accepting the additional responsibilities of the village’s streets and parks, being named the superintendent of public works in 2006 where he remained until 2019.

The commission also approved an adjustment to the Solarbee bid awarded in its June meeting for the installation of the five solar mixing pumps to combat annual algae bloom issues in the city’s freshwater reservoirs — three in the East Cold Run Reservoir and two in the Spring Valley Reservoir. At that time the bid was awarded to IXOM Water Care for $309,032 for the base bid, with an alternate for analytical systems also approved at the recommendation of Benesch Engineering for a total cost of $317,032. However, Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson said that alternates had not been able to be implemented into the proposal, noting the proposal had only arrived shortly before the meeting. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the final proposal for the base bid only pending final review by Law Director Brooke Zellers.

The commissioners also received favorable updates on several ongoing projects.

Donnalley said that the department had received approval by the Columbiana County Engineer’s Office for the Goshen Road water line project, and that the department was just waiting to receive the final permit to install from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).

The East Cold Run Reservoir dam repairs also saw positive news. The installation of an air plug with a pressure gauge in an observation well at the dam mandated by the OEPA to test for groundwater pressure prior to permitting Burgess and Niple to move forward with final engineering for the repairs has been completed. Donnalley said that the required testing had been completed and did not indicate the presence of any pressure, and that he was waiting for further update from Burgess & Niple.

Donnalley also announced that the water asset management plan had been completed and was available in booklet form.

The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of ongoing negotiations and personnel with no action to follow.

The utilities commission will meet next at 4 p.m. Aug. 17.

mahart@mojonews.com