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Mingo targets delinquent sewer bill customers

MINGO JUNCTION — Village Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with the Jefferson County water and sewer department to shut off water to village water customers in the George’s Run area who don’t pay their county sewer bill.

Councilman George Irvin, chairman of council’s water and sewer committee, said the agreement has been in the works for several years. The county can’t shut off sewer service to a home if a county customer doesn’t pay his or her sewer bill. The only alternative is to shut off the water service provided by the village.

The water will remain turned off until the customer pays the delinquent sewer bill.

Village Solicitor Ernest Wilson said the county will pay the village to turn off the water. The customer will have to go to the county water and sewer department to pay the sewer bill and the fee to have the village water turned on. Wilson said the water turn-on fee will be given to the village by the county.

“This ordinance helps the village work together with the county to bring about a resolution to a problem that has been ongoing,” Irvin said.

In other matters, fire Chief John Wright offered a policy change for when chlorine tanks are changed at the sewer plant. The operators at the plant have breathing apparatus that can be worn if there is a problem with a chlorine leak, but Wright said the breathing apparatus is expensive to maintain.

Kyle Moffat, the sewer plant operator, has a beard, which Wright said won’t allow a tight fit with a breathing mask.

Wright said the fire department will respond to the plant and be on standby when the chlorine tanks are changed every two months, which will eliminate the need for masks for the sewer plant workers.

Council’s safety committee will discuss the possible change in the policy. Village Administrator Bob Smith agreed with the policy change.

Wright also noted the village will be in need of a new ambulance in the future. He said the current ambulances are 15 and 17 years old and village officials will have to discuss how the ambulance replacement will be financed.

In other business:

¯ Police Chief Joe Sagun said the no parking signs recently installed in the 200 block of Murdock Avenue will be enforced with citations issued.

¯ Irvin brought up the idea of the village purchasing the former high school building, which has not been kept up by the current owner, and Wright said the building has been broken into many times. Wilson said it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to demolish the building, and he urged council not to purchase the building

¯ Council heard a presentation from Bud Mason of the Rural Community Assistance Program concerning help the organization can provide to the village for water and sewer operations.

Council’s finance committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, and the safety committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Councilman Jeff Schuetz said he is accepting donations for a fireworks display at the Mingo Junction Community Days scheduled for Aug. 11-12. He asked people to contact him at (740) 317-7282 about donations.

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