Canal Fulton's proposed water tower will cost $4.3M

The Repository
·3 min read

Canal Fulton City Council

Tuesday meeting

KEY ACTION: Heard a progress report on the proposed west-side water tower near Cherton Street NW.

DISCUSSION: During council’s work session, Finance Director William Rouse reported that the total cost of the water tower will be $4.3 million. The work has been divided into three phases – building the main tower for $1.9 million, constructing a booster pump station for $785,000 to tackle the elevation change to take water from the treatment plant to the tower, and extending water mains for development of the surrounding area for $1.4 million.

Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources, said Rouse, including $2.1 million in grants and a $900,000, 30-year, no-interest loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Rouse added that he had gotten preliminary approval for a 30-year $1.3 million loan through the Ohio Water Development Authority. City officials will continue to look for additional sources of revenue for the project.

The loans would add about $105,000 in new debt payments each year, beginning in 2027, but that would be offset when outstanding loan payments for three water projects will end in 2024, 2025, and 2026, said Rouse. “If we are ever going to build that tower, now is the time financially to do it,” he added.

OTHER ACTION:

  • Agreed to match $500 each to scholarships being offered by the Northwest Stark Senior Citizens Center and Bountiful Gifts. Students in the INTERACT program at Northwest High School may soon apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the senior center, where they have assisted in several programs. Students who are home schooled or attended Sts. Philip & James School may apply for a scholarship through Bountiful Gifts, where they have helped serve dinners. Both scholarships will be payable over four years.

  • Extended the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) into parts of St. Helena Heritage Park. Anyone with a special cup bought at a participating business may carry alcohol into the park parking lot, areas surrounding the playground but not the playground itself, the seating area for concerts, and the canal for those riding the canal boat.

  • Heard that the St. Helena III canal boat has been sandblasted by Guist Decorators for $14,700, revealing many holes in the concrete. The next step will be to repair the boat for $33,300. Part of the cost is being covered by a $13,000 grant from Visit Canton. Council members want to drain and clean the canal before putting the boat back in the water, so the newly repaired boat will not be damaged by debris.

  • Heard that the Parks Department will conduct an Easter egg hunt at noon April 1 at St. Helena Heritage Park. Please contact Parks Director Chris Bundy at 330-854-2225 to volunteer to fill eggs.

  • Adjourned to executive session to discuss compensation for a Police Department employee. No action was taken upon reconvening.

UP NEXT: Will meet at 6 p.m. April 4 at the Safety Center. The meeting will begin with a work session. Work sessions and meetings are recorded and may be viewed on the city’s Facebook page.

Joan Porter

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canal Fulton's proposed water tower will cost $4.3M