GM plant waterline is ready to flow

New waterlines are part of a deal that brought about the new production line.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- A waterline system that was key to bringing Cobalt to the General Motors Corp. complex here is ready to flow.
A ceremony opening the $3.3 million 6-mile waterline to GM will take place at 2:30 p.m. Monday on Salt Springs Road near the fire station.
Ron Barnhart, village planning administrator, said the water system improvement was sought by GM and actually provides backup water to the complex.
GM's goals
This was among the four items GM wanted to accomplish in attracting the Cobalt to Lordstown. In addition to the water, Barnhart said, GM wanted the United Auto Workers to have a labor agreement in place; wanted a storm sewer retention pond dredged by the county; and wanted a 100 percent property tax abatement for 10 years.
All of these items have been completed, the planner said.
Of the total $3.3 million to construct the line, the village paid $1 million, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration contributed $1.3 million, and the Ohio Department of Development, $1 million.
Barnhart said a 24-inch line begins at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, which provides wholesale water to Youngstown, Niles and McDonald. The line is connected at the main Niles waterline at Salt Springs and goes along Salt Springs to state Route 45, where it connects to the Lordstown water tower.
The Lordstown tower is connected to the Warren city tower next to it. Water from the Lordstown tower will be used by GM's assembly plant if the Warren water system goes down. It provides a backup to the Warren system.
A 14-inch line, meanwhile, will connect to the Lordstown line on Bailey Road at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. It has been extended to GM's private line at the company property.
Barnhart said the village, rather than Warren, will supply water to the fabrication plant. The complex will be able to use Warren's water if the Lordstown system is interrupted.
Increased water flow in the village system will be able to provide added pressure to homes and businesses and to supply new industrial and commercial water customers, he added.
yovich@vindy.com