Hearing scheduled in water-supply dispute

MVSD doesn't like the proposal to drill wells on its property.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has set a date to hear arguments over a water-supply dispute in Trumbull County.
Tom Holloway, Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's chief engineer, told the agency's board of directors Wednesday that the hearing will be held Sept. 14 in Columbus.
Aqua Ohio Inc., a private water supplier, has asked the PUCO to allow it to expand water service into Southington and Farmington townships and parts of Hubbard and Brookfield townships.
The MVSD, which sells treated bulk water to its member cities of Youngstown, Niles and McDonald for resale, has asked the PUCO to allow it to intervene in Aqua Ohio's request.
The district maintains that Aqua Ohio has higher water rates than do public suppliers and that the MVSD can expand its customer base because it is using only half of its maximum treatment capacity.
Aqua Ohio maintains that MVSD doesn't have sufficient legal interest to intervene.
Drilling wells
Also during the board meeting Wednesday, Holloway said he will send a counterproposal to Ohio Valley Energy's request to drill 16 natural gas wells on MVSD property.
"I don't think it was much of an offer," Holloway told the board.
He said that Ohio Valley wants the district to buy gas from it once the wells are sunk rather than receiving the gas for free. Also, the district wouldn't receive any compensation for signing a contract.
During the meeting, Atty. Charles Richards, district legal counsel, said a case involving it in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court has been transferred to Visiting Judge Thomas Curran of Cuyahoga County.
In May, the county commissioners approved the construction by Niles of a new three-mile waterline from Niles to the southeastern portion of the county.
Niles would then supply water that is now being supplied through the county lines by Aqua Ohio. In the lawsuit, the private water supplier alleges the county didn't give it adequate notification that it would no longer be the supplier.
The MVSD joined in the lawsuit because it supplies water to Niles.
Richards explained that the case was transferred to Judge Curran because Richards represents Judge John M. Stuard, who was initially assigned to hear the case.
yovich@vindy.com