MVSD Officials seeking funds

It could be year's end before the district gets word about the loan.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- For the second time in as many months, the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District will try for Ohio Environmental Protection Agency funding for two projects it is considering.
MVSD directors agreed at Tuesday's meeting to file a second application with the OEPA's water supply revolving loan account.
Chief Engineer Tom Holloway said he plans to send the application Thursday. If approved, he said, the money will be used to fund design work. "We want to look at using it for the Niles standpipe improvement and the head house roof improvement projects," he said.
The improvements include renovating the Niles water tower, which is owned by the district, as well as repairing or replacing the roof of the head house on the MVSD property off Salt Springs Road. One of the building's uses is for storage of chemicals used in the treatment process of water.
Last month, directors filed a similar application with the OEPA, asking for a $7.2 million, 3.5-percent loan to upgrade the 16 filters used at the plant.
Officials have not received word on that application, and Holloway noted it could be some time before the district gets any word on the latest application.
"That board meets at the end of each month, so they could consider it in September or October," he said.
If the OEPA determines it needs more information before processing the application, however, it could take until the end of the year before the MVSD has a decision.
Alga problem
Also at the meeting, directors asked Dr. Scott C. Martin, chair of the civil, environmental and engineering department at Youngstown State University, for revised proposals in regard to monitoring an alga in the Meander Reservoir.
In early 1999, MVSD employees discovered a cold-water alga called synura in the water supply. Although the alga is not harmful if consumed, it tends to produce a distinct cucumber-type odor and taste.
Plant officials have been able to treat it with chemicals, but YSU was contracted to study what causes the alga.
Directors asked YSU for a proposal to simply monitor the alga, as well as a plan to monitor and study the sediment in the reservoir.
Scott told the board that studying the sediment could determine how long the alga's been present.
slshaulis@vindy.com