MVSD Directors award contract for terror vulnerability study

The remaining money will be used toward planning and design of recommendations from the study.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- To fall in line with federal law, Mahoning Valley Sanitary District directors agreed Wednesday to use money from a grant toward a vulnerability assessment.
The board awarded a contract for $78,000 to Tectonic/Telemus for the mandated study, which addresses security concerns of the water supply from the MVSD.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the district a $115,000 grant earlier this year for the assessment, which was called for after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Chief Engineer David Tabak said the remaining $37,000 of the grant will be used toward planning and design procedures for any recommendations resulting from the study.
'A start'
"I don't know if it will be enough money, but it will give us a good start," he said.
Federal law requires the assessment be completed by Jan. 31, though an extension can be requested, Tabak said. With an extension, the study must be complete by March 31.
Tabak told the board the contract also covers an emergency operations plan for the district, which is also required at the federal level.
Director Harold Johnson said representatives from Tectonic/Telemus quoted a figure between $80,000 and $90,000 in their original proposal. He said he was happy with the final, lower figure.
Directors also approved a contract addendum with Youngstown State University for continued monitoring of algae at the Meander Lake reservoir.
MVSD and YSU entered into the contract last January, when the university sponsored a research project to identify and study the algae, which presented a taste and odor problem in 1999, Tabak said.
Money required
The contract requires MVSD to provide $25,515 toward the project.
A third contract was also approved by directors, awarding a $6,000 lump sum to Professional Risk Management Inc. for third-party administration of workers' compensation claims.
Tabak said the contract is simply a renewal of an existing agreement between the two parties. The annual agreement, which began a little more than seven years ago, has cost the district the same lump sum amount for the past four years, he said.
slshaulis@vindy.com