Watkins says Youngstown owes water to Liberty

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

There may be no movement on the issue until after a meeting Tuesday.

LIBERTY — Talks of a Joint Economic Development District for the new Wal-Mart site are in the air, but Trumbull County officials say they are owed at least seven more years of water service without any new agreement.

Representatives from the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office researched the issue and sent Youngstown officials a letter stating water service to a Wal-Mart site cannot be disrupted.

“This office, pursuant to the request of our client, Trumbull County commissioners, has researched the matter thoroughly. It is undisputed that Trumbull County owns the water lines in question. Additionally, the city of Youngstown is under a contractual obligation to provide water to the township,” the letter states.

According to the letter, the original contract between the city and township was entered into in 1955 with a 20-year termination clause. The contract was renewed in 1975 and 1995.

The current contract does not expire until October of 2015, the letter said.

“Should the city disagree with the county’s position, the county may take the appropriate action to enforce the terms of the contract and protect the interest of the residents of Trumbull County,” the letter said.

Wal-Mart has purchased about 55 percent of the Liberty Plaza property on Belmont to build a new superstore. Plans call for the store to face Belmont.

Half of the Liberty Plaza on Belmont Avenue met with the wrecking ball earlier this year in anticipation of the new Wal-Mart store, and the other half of the plaza changed ownership, but township officials have been concerned that a lack of water might halt the project.

Youngstown representatives had not responded to the letter as of Friday afternoon, said Jeff Adler, assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said Friday that he has received the letter and is still assessing it. He plans to have a response ready for the prosecutor’s office by Monday, he said.

Williams had previously said he has no plans to withhold water from the project. He said the city and township, for several months, have simply been discussing the possibility of a JEDD agreement.

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 best to address the water issue.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak has said she is most concerned that the project at the plaza not be interrupted. She said she heard the city will not move on the water issue until after Tuesday’s meeting, meaning the township still cannot rest on the issue.

“I was at ease when this letter was sent because I thought it would settle things, but we don’t have the water and at this point I am not at ease,” she said. “We still don’t have confirmation that we will have the water.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com