New water meters, street paving to begin soon in Wintersville
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WINTERSVILLE -- Village officials are asking for the cooperation of residents as they proceed with two major projects: The installation of more than 1,000 new water meters and the pavement of several streets.
Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said each of Wintersville's water customers will need to schedule an appointment for staff with Newman Plumbing Inc. of Harmony, Pa., to have his or her water meter replaced with one that can be read through radio signals transmitted to an antenna on the village's water tower.
Supplied by Core and Main of Ashland, Ohio, the meters are seen as a way to dedicate human meter readers to other work.
Kosegi said through their water bills and a mailed postcard, the customers will be instructed to call (888) 437-0078 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or e-mail newmanmeters@gmail.com to make their appointments.
He said most of customers' existing meters are indoors so representatives of the company, accompanied by staff from the village, will need to enter homes to remove them, a procedure that will take 25 to 35 minutes.
The meters will be replaced with exterior ones through a $985,000 project funded by a $341,000 grant and a $535,000 10-year, no-interest loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission and local funds.
Kosegi said because the grant money must be used before the end of the year, crews are slated to install 20 to 30 meters each day.
He confirmed following their installation and the implementation of new billing software, customers will be able to pay their water bills online.
Kosegi also reported crews with Barbicas Construction are expected to begin pavement of several local streets within the next two weeks.
The Akron-based contractor submitted the lowest of three bids, $365,902, for the work, which will include Rex, Russell and Patton avenues, Day Circle, Simpson Road and Woodridge Drive from Simpson to Eisenhower Road.
Residents of those streets are asked to park their vehicles elsewhere while crews work to complete the task as the end of the paving season nears.
Kosegi said the village got a late start because the project had not been among 12 awarded state funds until another dropped out, so he didn't receive word of its approval until June.
The paving will be funded by a $275,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission and local funds.
Kosegi noted the cost is higher than initially estimated because he raised specs for the thickness of the coating from one and a half inches to 2 to 3 inches because it will mean a more durable surface.
He and Mayor Mike Petrella said village crews have been busy repairing, replacing and cleaning catch basins and raising manholes along the streets before the paving begins.
Kosegi said while performing such tasks, crews discovered an 18-inch stormwater line near Rex Avenue that had become clogged and spent several hours to clear it, efforts he said likely prevented a line break and damage to the surrounding area.
Councilman Randy Spence applauded Kosegi and the crews for such measures, saying, "The preventive maintenance is a lot to consider and I think you're doing a heck of a job."
Kosegi said he awaits word on an application for state funds to pave Cadiz Road next year.
The project, which must include the creation of handicap-accessible sidewalks, has been estimated at $750,000, but village officials have said it's long overdue.