Aqua Ohio seeking meeting on why Niles got water deal

Saturday, August 26, 2006 Each party says its water rates would be lower for customers. By TIM YOVICH VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF WARREN — Aqua Ohio Inc. wants to meet with Trumbull County commissioners to find out why it wasn't asked to provide water to customers in four townships. Commissioners have designated the city of Niles as supplier, rather than Aqua, a private water supplier. Albert Sauline, manager of Aqua's Masury division, said Friday that Aqua wants to meet with the commissioners to determine why the company wasn't asked for a proposal to supply water to the distribution system. James G. Tsagaris, commissioners' chairman, said Friday that he doesn't have a problem meeting with Aqua. "But I'm only one" of the county's three commissioners, he noted. Background In May, the commissioners approved the construction by Niles of a new three-mile waterline from Niles to the southeastern part of the county. Niles buys treated water from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District and resells it. Aqua currently supplies water to Brookfield and Hubbard townships through lines owned by the county. The county's new distribution system will add Vienna and Liberty townships — with Niles supplying all the water. Tsagaris said the county should be working more with Aqua as a water supplier. Niles and Warren cannot supply water to the entire county as quickly as it's needed, he said. Aqua has maintained that its rates to customers would be lower than Niles'. Niles and the MVSD say their rates are lower. Walter J. "Buzz" Pishkur, Aqua president, said that the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's Office has understated the Niles water rate. Aqua has a pending lawsuit against the commissioners, alleging that the county terminated the contract with Aqua without proper notice. Atty. James Brutz, an assistant county prosecutor, has maintained that the county gave Aqua more than enough notice to withdraw from the contract. Response Pishkur said ongoing exchange of information with the sanitary engineer's office, commissioners and Aqua "has been lacking in opportunities for full disclosure and meaningful comparison." "I think the commissioners would agree that it would be good to have all the parties in the same room at the same time to have a reasonable and professional discussion of the situation," Pishkur said. yovich@vindy.com