Company's president objects to construction of waterlines

Aqua Ohio Inc. says the county can better spend money elsewhere.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Aqua Ohio Inc.'s president is objecting to today's planned construction start of Trumbull County's Southeast Water District improvement project.
County commissioners approved by a 2-1 vote the project construction. Commissioners on Wednesday decided to give the nod to Dave Sugar Excavating LLC of Petersburg to construct a three-mile waterline from Niles to the eastern part of the county.
They also gave authority to W.E. Downie Co. Inc. of Poland to construct a booster station under the water tower on Deer Trail Court in Niles.
Sugar will be paid nearly $1.5 million; Downie, $880,000. Construction was to begin today.
Objections raised
During the commissioners' meeting, Walter Pishkur, Aqua president, raised objections to the construction of the waterlines and booster station. He argued that the project is a duplication of services since his company currently supplies water to the area.
When completed, Brookfield, Vienna, Liberty and Hubbard townships will be served with water from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, a public water supplier that uses Meander Reservoir as its water source.
Aqua Ohio Inc., a private supplier, now services the area with water through county-owned lines.
Pishkur said the money could be better spent elsewhere so other areas of the county could receive water service.
Gary Newbrough, county sanitary engineer, countered that the 2,500 customers will receive lower water rates than they are being charged by Aqua.
Pishkur said he has sent a letter to commissioners asserting Aqua's rates are less than if the county builds the project.
Newbrough said the project will be paid off in four years and enable the county to then expand water service to other areas of the county.
The dissenting vote on the project was cast by Commissioner James G. Tsagaris. He declined to explain his vote, noting Aqua has a pending lawsuit against the county.
Lawsuit
Earlier this year, Aqua filed a lawsuit in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court asserting that it has the exclusive right to provide water to the four townships.
If the county wants to terminate Aqua as the supplier, the lawsuit says, Aqua is to receive a one-year notice, which it hasn't.
The county maintains that Aqua received the proper notice.
Commissioner Paul Heltzel took exception to Tsagaris allowing Pishkur to speak on the issue during the meeting.
"There is an agenda here," Heltzel said of Pishkur.
Heltzel said Pishkur should have attended commissioners' Tuesday work session to make his case.
Tsagaris countered that Pishkur was unaware the water project would be discussed Tuesday and he wanted more information about Aqua's position.
yovich@vindy.com