TRUMBULL COUNTY Lordstown nears OK of water pact

The municipalities have been under a contract that expired in 2001.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- It's taken almost 18 months of negotiations, but village officials have taken the first step in approving a water contract with Warren.
Village council gave first reading Monday to legislation for the contract, which was approved earlier that day by the Lordstown Board of Public Affairs, which oversees village water operations.
The water contract between Warren and Lordstown, which lets Warren supply water to the General Motors complex in the village, expired in 2001. The municipalities have continued to operate under the terms of the old pact.
Lordstown, which also has a water supply contract with Niles, needed to assure GM officials that a redundant line would be in place. It was one of the conditions set forth by GM in its decision to keep the Lordstown plant operating.
The water from Niles serves as the primary water source for the GM fabricating plant, the backup for the assembly plant and the leading water supply to other businesses and residents of the village.
Warren ran a line to the GM assembly plant about the time the plant was built. It also serves as a backup supply to the fabricating plant.
But rather than allow Warren to continue directly supplying water, village officials decided to take advantage of a state law that allows it to buy water and resell it.
Contract details
The contract, set to go into effect Aug. 1, states Warren will supply water needed for the GM plant at a quality approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the same quality supplied to Warren's customers.
Rates charged to the village for the water will fall under Warren's pricing policy where a surcharge is added on to customers outside the city limit. The contract states, however, that the total price cannot be more than 15 cents per thousand gallons above what Lordstown pays for water from Niles.
For example, if Niles charges Lordstown $1.86 per 1,000 gallons of water, Warren'a price cannot exceed $2.01 for the same amount.
Also, Lordstown officials agree not to resell any water bought from Warren to any other customers without prior approval from Warren officials.
The contract, if approved, will run for 15 years.
slshaulis@vindy.com