Solution sought for water worries

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

One possibility is the buying of water from Girard, one trustee notes.

LIBERTY — Township officials plan to see flowing water at the proposed Wal-Mart site on Belmont Avenue — one way or another.

Half of the Liberty Plaza on Belmont has been leveled in anticipation of a new Wal-Mart store. Wal-Mart purchased about 55 percent of the plaza property to build its store. Plans call for the store to face Belmont.

Township officials say the large retailer recently paid a $75,000 zoning fee to begin construction and was ready to move forward when talks of a Joint Economic Development District with Youngstown for water use began to surface.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said he is not forcing the water issue or planning to deny the project water, but he is looking at the possibility of a JEDD.

Township Trustees Jodi Stoyak and Jack Simon have been less than enthusiastic about the possibility of a JEDD on the Belmont Avenue property.

Stoyak said trustees have scheduled a meeting with Youngstown and Trumbull County officials at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the township government center to discuss JEDDs and how to best address the water issue. The meeting, she said, should clear up any confusion on what both local governments want.

“We just need to sit down at the table and get the same information out to everyone involved in this issue,” said Stoyak. “I nor Jack [Simon] are interested in a JEDD along Belmont. We did entertain the idea of a JEDD along Gypsy Lane.”

Stoyak said the township, in the meantime, will be exploring other means of getting water to the Wal-Mart site. She said a strong possibility would be to buy the water from the city of Girard, which already supplies a portion of the township with water.

Girard Mayor James Melfi said he has spoken with township Administrator Pat Ungaro and Trumbull County Commissioner Frank Fuda about the possibility of increasing water service to the township. He said Girard’s waterlines are about 300 yards away from the proposed Wal-Mart site.

“Of course I would be more than willing to cooperate in seeing that this project gets water,” said Melfi.

It is premature to discuss who would pay for waterline extensions should they be needed, Melfi said.

Stoyak said she has been in touch with county commissioners and they are checking with the prosecutor’s and engineer’s offices to see what can be done to supply water, should Youngstown not do so.

“This is key. We have been waiting for this for a long time and it is disheartening that they have waited until the last minute to throw this at us,” she said. “We are doing everything in our power to make sure water is available for this project.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com