NILES MVSD tables action on repairs

The contract was extended one month to allow more time for negotiations.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Mahoning Valley Sanitary District directors once again postponed a decision on getting design plans for much-needed repairs completed, but did set a timetable on when they would take action.
The four directors agreed Wednesday to set a special meeting for next week to act on a bid from CT Consultants Inc. of Willoughby, to complete the plans and perform additional work at a cost of $408,000. No meeting time or date was set, though.
Approving the design work is the first step in getting repairs done to the district's 16 filters.
The initial plans to do the repair work started roughly 10 years ago, but the project and all other capital improvement work at the plant here was halted when the state conducted a performance audit of the MVSD. Directors agreed last November to once again start capital improvement projects, with the repairs to the filter system topping the list.
CT Consultants, which initially completed about 95 percent of the needed plans, submitted a proposal to directors saying the bid would include completing and updating the work, as well as cover additional work, such as any other needed design work, bidding services, post-construction services and asbestos abatement.
Union contract extended
Directors did take action, however, to extend the current union labor contract with the 35 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1649 for one month. The union represents workers from all departments at the MVSD.
MVSD lawyer Charles Richards said negotiations between labor and management got a late start this year, and talks are running about 30 days behind. The current contract was set to expire next Monday, but directors approved extending the terms until July 31.
"Frankly, the boat is still a long way from the dock," he said, referring to the negotiations, but added he believed an agreement would be reached before the end of July.
Also at the meeting, directors approved purchase orders to companies for needed supplies for the filter system. Approved were:
U $36,330 to R.W. Sidley Inc. of Paynesville for filter media, including sand.
U$39,370 to Industrial Air Control Inc. of Hubbard for vacuum service needs, including services used in regular maintenance operations.
U$9,272 to U.S. Group E.R. Advanced Ceramics of East Palestine for porcelain spheres.
slshaulis@vindy.com