Commissioners stay out of fight against Aqua

Commissioners' involvement would complicate the issue, Aqua's president says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners won't join the fight to stop a private water company's attempt to expand its territory.
Aqua Ohio Inc., a Boardman-based private supplier, applied in January with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to expand its service area to include Southington and Farmington townships and parts of Hubbard and Brookfield townships.
"I'm going to give the township my support," Commissioner James G. Tsagaris said of Southington.
The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, a public entity that supplies treated water to Youngstown, Niles and McDonald for resale, has intervened to stop Aqua's expansion. MVSD in recent weeks had also asked commissioners to join the intervention.
Commissioners haven't taken a formal vote not to intervene. James Brutz, an assistant county prosecutor who is handing water issues for the county, said he hasn't been given authority to intervene.
"I think they should have water," Tsagaris said of the townships. "If they want it, they should have it."
Commissioner Daniel E. Polivka agrees with Tsagaris that if the county can't supply the water, then there is the need to look at other options.
"I'm not sure we should have a dog in that fight," Polivka said.
Polivka pointed out that he has asked the county sanitary engineer to come up with plans to service Southington with public water, but he hasn't seen any proposals. He also points to a health issue in Southington where wells have gone bad, affecting the quality of life.
Commissioner Paul Heltzel said he isn't sure the commissioners' intervention would add anything to the objections filed by the MVSD.
Aqua's view
Walter Pishkur, Aqua president, said there is no need for the commissioners to intervene.
"There is noting else they [commissioners] can bring to the game," he said.
Pishkur said he believes the commissioners have taken their position on the basis that their involvement would complicate the issue, delay a PUCO ruling and spend money unnecessarily.
Tom Holloway, MVSD chief engineer and former Trumbull County sanitary engineer, said the county should join the MVSD's objections.
He pointed out that the county is the political entity responsible for water service and should take the lead in supporting public water suppliers.
Trustees from other townships such as Liberty, Bazetta and Braceville want the MVSD to service their communities or step aside so a private company can supply water to them.
The commissioners, Holloway noted, should pressure the county sanitary engineer to come up with plans to supply water when residents express a need.
He explained that if a private company is permitted to expand its territory but elects not to provide water, the county can't take over the area unless the company abandons its territory.
"That's a big concern," Holloway said, noting the issue would most likely end up in court.
In addition, he said, if customers become dissatisfied with a private supplier the only option for the county is buy the system that's in the ground. This, he said, could be expensive.