Trustees hear water proposal

Township money could cut residents' costs for the waterline extension.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Township trustees heard a proposal from a private water company to construct two waterline extensions, one of which would cost each customer about $9,000.
The proposal was made Tuesday by Walter J. Pishkur, president of Consumers Ohio Water Co.
Trustees made no decision on whether to accept the company's proposal or continue to work with Trumbull County to extend the lines.
The projects
One proposal calls for a 3,200-foot line along Tibbetts-Wick Road, from Sampson Drive to Belmont Avenue.
Based on 19 lot owners and a $20,000 contribution from Consumers Ohio, and excluding monetary participation by the township, the cost per customer would be $8,947.
This does not include $500 to $700 to run the line from the street to the customer.
There would be no tap-in fee, no mandatory tap-in and a low-interest financing plan with Consumers Ohio, Pishkur said.
The cost per customer to run a 3,500-foot line from the 1300 block of Church Hill-Hubbard Road east to Logan Avenue and north to Will-O-Wood Drive would be $3,340 based on 48 customers. This includes a $50,000 contribution by Consumers Ohio.
If the township should agree to chip in money for the projects, the cost per customer would decrease, Pishkur explained.
The cost of water would be 62 percent lower than the rate charged to township customers served by Girard water, the company president said.
He explained that the average customer outside of Girard pays $30.35 monthly, while customers in Consumers Ohio's Masury Division pay $18.66 monthly.
Possible lawsuit?
Trustees will now have to decide if they agree to Consumers Ohio's proposal or stay with the county. Trustees have complained that county extensions take years to complete, thus holding back development in the township.
Trustee Jack Simon said that going with a private water provider would certainly generate a lawsuit by the county sanitary engineer's office and Girard.
Girard has a 20-year agreement with the county to provide water in an area of the township, Simon said, but noted Liberty was not included in any discussions before the agreement was approved.
Trustee W. Gary Litch said he wants to make a quick decision on a private or public provider because the debate has been lingering.
yovich@vindy.com