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WINTERSVILLE -- Future plans to replace many water lines and ongoing efforts to install new water meters were among matters before Wintersville Council on Thursday.
Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said more than 50 percent of Wintersville's water lines were installed around 1955 while around 35 percent are at least 25 years old.
Kosegi said he and village staff are keeping a record of water line breaks for use in prioritizing projects for future grant applications.
He added whenever possible, line replacements will be done in conjunction with paving, so streets torn up for the work can be restored with grant money as well.
"We're going to sit down and look at where the most line breaks have occurred and at our paving schedule," Kosegi said, adding, "We're going to try to be as efficient as possible."
The discussion came following news earlier this week that the village has been awarded $650,000 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to rehabilitate a pump station near the border between Wintersville and Steubenville.
Plans call for the pump station to supply water when service in either municipality is disrupted by a line break.
The pump station hasn't been in use since the village started receiving water from Jefferson County.
Councilman Jason Mattern applauded the efforts of officials in both communities to pursue the project.
"It's nice to see two neighbors working together," he said.
Kosegi also advised two Steubenville staff members have been hired to assist with the installation of 120 water meters still remaining from that project.
He said the meters include some larger ones needed by local businesses but also some apartment buildings and residences with indoor meters that must be replaced.
Wintersville officials secured a $341,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission while allocating about $644,000 of the village's own funds to install new meters that transmit readings to the Village Building through an antenna on a water tower.
They are intended to reduce labor required for manual readings by village crews while providing more accurate readings and allowing residents to pay their water bills online if they wish.
Kosegi said office staff have been training this week on the billing software that will be used.
He confirmed there are plans to fine any water customers who don't allow crews to enter their residences to change the meters, adding the village also can shut off service for them.
Any resident who hasn't made an appointment to have his or her indoor meter changed should call (740) 266-3175.
In other business:
• Mayor Mike Petrella announced the Village Building will be closed on Nov. 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving and Thursday's garbage routes will be collected on Nov. 29.
He asked residents to be patient that day, as their garbage may be collected a little later than usual.
He added the Wintersville Christmas Parade will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 on Main Street. Anyone interested in participating should call the number above by 3:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
Petrella said judging for the Christmas lighting contest will be done Dec. 14 and 15. He encouraged council members to submit their three top picks for consideration as winners.
The mayor also thanked Mike Gill, president of A.R.M. USA, a local amusement ride company; for supplying an aluminum cap, worth hundreds of dollars, for the collection bin of the device used by village crews to vacuum leaves along local streets.
Petrella also acknowledged M&A Concrete for repairing curb along Main Street at no cost after it was struck by a passing tractor trailer. He said the section of curb was among many the Hammondsville business had been hired recently to repair.
• Councilman Randy Spence asked if village crews will be taking over the plowing of snow from School Street, which may fall under the ownership of the village.
Village Solicitor Jake Linn said attorneys for multiple parties are in talks involving that possibility, which will depend on the support of owners of property along the street.
• It was announced council's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 5.