TRUMBULL COUNTY Official supports plan for waterlines

Residents would pay the cost of construction.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Commissioner James Tsagaris has thrown his support behind a Consumers Ohio Water Company proposal to build and operate two waterlines in Liberty Township.
At a meeting on the proposal Wednesday, Tsagaris shouted down opponents of the project.
"They want water, they should get water," Tsagaris yelled. "These people have waited long enough."
Liberty officials have enthusiastically endorsed Consumers' plan to build waterlines along Church Hill and Tibbets-Wick roads if enough customers say they are willing to tie in.
Thomas Holloway, the county's sanitary engineer, says he has reservations about allowing a private company to control what would be a major link between county-owned water systems.
Allowing a private system to become intermeshed with the public one could also force the county to continue getting bulk water from a Consumers plant in Pennslyvania.
Considering a switch
Trumbull County has been spending $1.2 million a year to buy Consumers water, but is examining a switch to systems fed by the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District for cheaper rates.
MVSD is owned by the cities of Youngstown and Niles, which sells water to surrounding suburbs.
"My feeling is they are trying to disrupt it," Holloway said.
Consumers is considering building a line along Church Hill Road, from Summit Street to Logan Way, and 1,250 feet along Logan Way; and another line along Tibbets-Wick, from Belmont Avenue to Sampson Drive.
The company estimates its cost for both projects would be about $300,000.
Residents who tie in will be offered loans to cover their portion of the expense of construction, said Consumers president Walter Pishkur.
Trustees have been hoping some one would put pipes in the ground along the two streets for years, said Liberty Trustee W. Gary Litch. "We've got to ... find ways to make this happen," he said.
Tsagaris asked Holloway not to attend the meeting.
Assistant County Prosecutor Jim Brutz, who represents Holloway's office, said county waterlines could have been put in at any point if residents were willing to sign petitions and pay.
"If the people don't want it, if they don't want to pay for it, we can't force it down their throats," he said.
One way or another, the county will make sure waterlines are built in Liberty, Commissioner Joseph Angelo Jr. said.
siff@vindy.com