Tentative deal on sewage service

STRUTHERS -- A copy of a tentative 10-year agreement between the city and Mahoning County to provide city sewage treatment services to certain areas in the county has been sent to city council's Public Utilities Committee for review. The current agreement expires in March 2005.
Mayor Dan Mamula told council during a regular meeting Wednesday that in the new agreement, the cost of improvements to the city's sewage treatment plant will be split, with the county paying 64.5 percent and the city the rest, the same as in the current agreement. That ratio could change, depending on water consumption, which will be measured each May. The ratio would not change unless there is at least a 5 percent change in consumption, Mamula said.
The only new provision, the mayor said, is that the city is required to inform the county about any planned improvements exceeding $50,000 in a budget year.
The mayor also told council that the contractor for the new Walton Avenue bridge is on site and working with the utility companies to relocate affected utility lines.
As was done with the state Route 616 bridge, Mamula said, monthly progress meetings will take place during construction to ensure the project is completed expeditiously.