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Tri-township water district plan approved
Nobody in the courtroom objected to creation of the new water district.
YOUNGSTOWN — A judge has approved the creation of a regional water supply and storm-water management district for Austintown, Boardman and Canfield townships.
Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court approved creation of the district at a Monday hearing.
The judge ruled after he asked twice whether anyone in the audience objected to the district’s creation. No one did.
“This proposed district is necessary, and it, and the plan for the operation of the district, is conducive to the public health, safety, convenience and welfare,” Judge Evans said.
Iris Torres Guglucello, Youngstown city law director, and Dan Pribich, deputy city law director, sat silently in the back row of the courtroom. Guglucello declined to comment after the hearing.
During the hearing, Atty. John Albers of Columbus, who represented the townships, outlined the townships’ petition to create the ABC Water and Storm Water District.
“Those flooding problems and those water problems can be combated now regionally, rather than each township trying to handle them on their own,” Robyn Gallitto, Boardman trustee, said after the hearing.
“It’s a good move going in the right direction for our communities to try to alleviate not only storm-water issues, but to potentially create a water district that can be competitive,” said Austintown Trustee David Ditzler.
“It gives us some bargaining power with respect to looking at projects and seeking grants,” Ditzler said of the new regional district.
“We’ve got a lot of flooding going on along Indian Run,” said Carmen Heasley, Canfield Township fiscal officer.
“With all the flooding that’s going on in that area, we have got right now on the books over $1 million tied up that’s going to have to be put into this area in order to get rid of some of the problems that we have, so I am excited that this is coming in,” she added.
“The need is evident, especially in Boardman and Canfield townships,” where many residents now using well water need potable water from a public water supply, Albers told the judge.
Albers said he was prepared to place a Columbus-area engineer, an Aqua Ohio executive, and township trustees on the witness stand to testify as to the need for the district.
Trustees of each participating township now will appoint one commissioner to the new district’s three-member board. The board likely will conduct its first meeting late this year or early next year, he said.
The district’s goals will be to bring public water-supply lines to areas of the townships that lack them and to build storm sewers and storm-water detention ponds in the townships.
“No longer will the money come from the township coffers; and townships in Ohio really don’t have adequate funding to address extensive storm-water problems,” Albers said.
The new district’s funding can come from a variety of sources including grants and loans, user fees and assessments or even a newly voted property tax, Albers said. A new tax is unlikely here, however, he added.
The district can pursue its projects without having to annex township territory to a city or participate in a Joint Economic Development District, Albers said. “We’re happy to be able to provide water services free of those kinds of contingencies and constraints,” he added.
Albers said Aqua Ohio, which has expressed its willingness to sell water to the new district for resale to township residents, will be the likely water supplier to the new public waterlines.
milliken@vindy.com