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The utilities commission discussed the status of several department projects in its September meeting.
Commissioners discussed several stalled projects at length, and how best the department may begin to push the projects forward ahead of the approaching winter weather.
Chief among the projects discussed was the repairs on the dam and rip-rap at East Cold Run. Work has been stalled for groundwater pressure testing at the dam mandated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) since May; however, the committee discussed moving forward with repair work on the rip-rap while they wait for response from ODNR on the status of the dam. Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson said that it was worth examining the possibility, and suggested checking with Benesch Engineering regarding the possibility, so that crucial repair work on the rip-rap could begin.
Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley agreed that the department should investigate the possibility, noting that while the rip-rap was not fully exposed, much of the most damaged sections were currently accessible due to reduced water levels within the reservoir.
"That wouldn't be going ahead of the PTI or anything, that would just be doing it while they're researching and coming to whatever decision they're going to come to about the external part or the percentage of the slope instead of everyone just sitting around waiting. With the water level down, it makes sense to maybe get that part of it done, because I don't see where that affects it," said Donnalley.
Commissioners also discussed the long-stalled cleaning of the Stewart Road water tanks by Liquid Engineering, which had been scheduled to occur sometime this month. However, Donnalley said that the project had been pushed back by Liquid Engineering again, citing cause as the same ongoing staffing issues responsible for past delays. Donnalley said that he'd been in contact with several other area municipalities, which he said were experiencing similar delays. Donnalley also said that he intended to begin seeking alternative options to conduct the cleanings, but thus far had been encountering similar reports of massive delays from staffing issues throughout the industry.
The commission also received positive updates on the status of the Goshen Road water line, the Lincoln and Snyder Road water connection, and phase three improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
Donnalley said that the department's application for the final permit to install (PTI) for Goshen Road had been reviewed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and received no additional comments and was currently in the queue to be processed and approved. The necessary pipe for the water connection has also been installed and capped, pending the receipt of the final PTI for that project to connect to the existing lines. The commission also decided to move forward with connecting the new pipes to the nearby fire hydrants so that the department is completely ready to connect to the lines once the PTI is received.
Construction continues to progress at pace at the wastewater plant, with Plant Manager Dean Stokes noting that while currently the primary focus remains the sludge dewatering building, all electrical banks had been completing and necessary preparation were under way to begin paving soon. Commissioners questioned if the information regarding the pros and cons for potential materials for the plant's driveway requested from Benesch Engineering at the commission's last meeting had been presented yet. Stokes said that he hadn't received the information yet and was hoping to get further information at his next meeting with Benesch the next day. Hodgson said that they would need to emphasize the importance of the requested information in making their decision regarding the driveway.
"When we meet with them, we really need to stress to them that we need pros and cons of each so that we make the best decision," said Hodgson.
The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of personnel matters and ongoing negotiations with no action to follow.
The utilities commission will meet next at 4 p.m. Oct. 19.
mahart@mojonews.com