COLUMBIANA CO. Officials approve deal for waterline

The sheriff's department is trying to secure funding to improve radio communications among deputies.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Groundbreaking could occur this summer for a nearly $500,000 project that will supply public water to Beaver School District buildings.
Columbiana County commissioners agreed Wednesday to a deal between the county and the Buckeye Water District, the agency that controls water distribution in parts of the county.
The agreement provides for the county to build the line and then lease it for $1 a year to the district.
Also spelled out in the document are tap-in fees for those along the line's route who wish to receive water from the utility.
The tap-in fee for residential service will be $3,250; for commercial service, $4,900. Tap-ins will be voluntary.
Location: The waterline will be extended about 2 miles from near the intersection of state Routes 7 and 11 to the schools.
A chief reason for the project is to supply water to Beaver high school and middle school, which are near each other along state Route 7 in Madison Township.
The schools rely on wells, which are expensive to maintain and not as reliable as a municipal utility.
Funding includes state money and nearly $260,000 from the school district.
Other matters: Commissioners also authorized Sheriff Dave Smith to seek a $25,000 state grant for improving the department's radio communication system.
Commissioners also asked the county auditor's office to review a proposal by the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board to seek renewal of a 1.5-mill levy.
MRDD officials were unavailable to provide more information on the matter.
Testimony: Commissioner Sean Logan is expected to testify today before an Ohio House committee regarding Gov. Bob Taft's proposed two-year budget.
Logan will speak against a provision in the plan that would freeze certain funds destined for county and local governments.
The freeze would fiscally hurt the county and the many local governments that rely on the funds as part of their budgets, county officials argue.
This year, county government and area townships and villages were to share nearly $5.2 million in state tax dollars known as local government funds.
Taft, however, is proposing that the 2001 funding level, paid out monthly, be frozen at the end of July. Afterward, monthly payments would be based on the county's 2000 allocation of about $5 million.