CORTLAND Plans to buy acreage for well field delayed

The probate court has held up the sale of the land the city wants.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- The city's plans to buy land for a third water-well field have been put on hold.
City Service Director Don Wittman said a special city council meeting called to discuss the purchase of 10.25 acres in Bazetta Township for the well field has been canceled.
The land is in the estate of Andy E. Rosko, and the Trumbull County Probate Court delayed the auction to sell the parcel.
The acreage is along Bradley-Brownlee Road just north of Walnut Run Golf Course.
Wittman said that a recently completed report by MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown on the city's water system calls for development of a third well field to complement the existing two.
Analysis
A preliminary analysis of the 10.25 acres, Wittman said, shows the land is over an aquifer, but a test well would first be sunk to confirm the existence of water.
The 10.25 acres is only about 500 yards from the city's water distribution system, Wittman said.
Mayor Curt Moll said the city has the money to buy the land.
CT recommended that the city spend $6.8 million over the next 20 years to assure a water supply that would keep pace with the growth of the community.
CT also recommended construction of a 1 million gallon storage tank because the existing water storage system does not meet Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Councilwoman Deidre Petrosky, a member of council's technical review committee, said of the purchase: "There are a lot of things up in the air at this point. We're just kind of hanging." she said.
yovich@vindy.com