Council approves selling water along unused line

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The city and county each say they own the now-unused waterline.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — Columbiana County and Salem officials appear to be willing to talk about how to use water to spur economic development.

Council on Tuesday approved legislation, in a split vote, to sell city water from the now unused waterline that runs from the city's treatment plant to the federal prison in Elkton.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Wednesday it seemed that city officials had heard the county's requests for development.

"It looks like we're making progress for the citizens of Columbiana County," Hoppel added.

Commissioner Dan Bing said the commissioners will now wait and see what happens.

Neither side said they were charging off to court.

Don Weingart, superintendent of the city's utilities department, said the city legislation will allow negotiations to begin over who needs water service.

And Al DeAngelis, the district manager for the Buckeye Water District, said he had met with city officials recently on the issue.

DeAngelis said he has more than enough things going right now to keep him busy.

He is overseeing the construction of a $33 million treatment plant near Wellsville that will draw water from the Ohio River, and he is helping Salineville replace its treatment plant by 2009.

Unresolved issue

What remains unresolved, however, is who owns the old waterline to the prison. The city and county both claim ownership.

The county bought water from the city for 10 years for the prison. When the contract expired, Salem tried to bid directly with the prison.

The commissioners, however, gave the contract to Buckeye. A line was extended from a county water district to supply water to the prison.

The county has long wanted waterlines to service county facilities west of Lisbon.

The county also is considering moving its Department of Job and Family Services from inside Lisbon to north of the village, which also will require water service.

Buckeye has agreements to provide water to some townships. And soon it will have plenty of water. Its intake line was placed in the river last week but is not yet connected to the plant.

And the city will need a major user because of the size of the line to the prison.

A single homeowner won't be allowed to tap into the prison line. Weingart said the line needs a large customer to keep the water moving so it doesn't become stagnant.

wilkinson@vindy.com

Thursday, July 19, 2007