Midvale residents come with questions about water system, answers are scarce
MIDVALE — About 50 residents and water customers attended Thursday's Village Council meeting in search of facts and figures regarding water rates and the water system. However, council members have no answers at this time.
One thing is certain, water rates are going up and homes and businesses will have to be metered. This is regardless of whether or not the Midvale water system is sold to Aqua Ohio.
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John O'Hara, a former board member for Twin City Water spoke in front of the crowd and received a favorable response. "In order to get any kind of loans you'll have to be metered," he said.
Midvale is in the process of obtaining loans for a $2.6 million filtration system that is required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to reduce manganese. A $1 million federal grant has been received. O'Hara did not see a reason why Midvale could not connect to Twin City Water.
"I came on my own to speak because our villages are neighbors. I don't have anything prepared," O'Hara said, adding that their regional plant has the capacity to hook onto several other water systems if needed. It was noted that some residents had complained about Twin City water while the former Midvale water board discussed the matter. O'Hara said many improvements have been made to the system.
Former council member Jim Ford started out the night by saying he'd heard that Police Chief/Village Administrator Brian Anderson and Mayor Larry Kopp had assaulted 87-year-old resident William Zeigler on Thursday afternoon. Ford said he felt the two should be suspended until an investigation has been completed. Anderson and Kopp both said the issue was being handled by the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office and that they had no comment at this time. When asked about it by a resident, Solicitor Greg Swope said he was only now hearing about the matter.
OTHER ACTION
Passed a motion appointing Randy Cadle as council president due to the resignation of Wayne Brandon. Fiscal Officer Georgianne Turner said letters of intent for the vacancy will be accepted through July 28.
Heard the second reading of an ordinance to vacate Hilliard Drive.
Approved the premium for Kennedy Insurance at a cost of $15,678.
Passed a resolution approving a $1 per hour pay increase — $12 to $13 — for water clerk LuAnn Kail.
A petition containing approximately 400 signatures was presented to council at the start of the meeting. Ford said after the session that more people in attendance wanted to sign their names to the document. It asks the village not to sell the water system and not to add meters.
DISCUSSION
• Anderson brought to Swope's attention that Bill Marino is wanting to parcel off property that he owns on Barnhill Road.
FOR YOUR INFO
Lynette Kopp said the village needs to pick a spot for the placement of the sculpture for the Tuscarawas Arts Project, by Aug. 31. Artist Sarah Dugger has been chosen to paint the piece. Fundraising is being conducted to cover the cost of the project according to Wilma Mullet, executive director of Tuscarawas Arts Partnership. Council should let her know if any area businesses would like to make a donation.
Cadle said he appreciated the great attendance by residents, both at Wednesday's community meeting and the council meeting. "Once we have all the facts in front of us, I think everyone will look at it with an open mind," he said. "We want to look at all the possible choices and it behooves us to check out all the options before we have to vote on this important issue."
UP NEXT Will meet at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 11 at the park pavilion.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Midvale officials and residents discuss water system choices
