MVSD chief engineer: Nothing alarming about dam cracks

By Jordan Cohen | January 12, 2017 at 12:09a.m.

NILES

The outgoing Mahoning Valley Sanitary District chief engineer says cracks detected in the Meander Reservoir dam do not appear to be serious, based on a consultant’s report.

“There are no serious cracks in the dam … and there is nothing alarming in the report,” Thomas Holloway told city council during a roundtable meeting Wednesday.

MVSD provides water from the Meander Reservoir to Niles, Youngstown and McDonald.

Reconstruction of the reservoir dam, which was built in 1932, is expected to cost the district $28 million.

Niles council members, however, appeared to be more concerned with the court-ordered reopening of an injection well in Weathersfield Township.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources concluded the well was responsible for setting off several earthquakes in 2014.

Several council members said they think the quakes may have caused cracks in the dam and in some of MVSD’s 15 buildings.

The quakes ceased after the state ordered the well shut down, but earlier this month, a judge in Franklin County ruled the well could resume operations.

District officials, including Holloway, who has resigned from the chief engineer position effective Jan. 22, have been reluctant to point fingers at the well and the earthquakes for causing the cracks.

They point out a number of the buildings were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s, so other causes for the cracks, such as land that is settling, is possible.

“We don’t have a definite conclusion of the cause of anything,” said Richard Hale, one of two Niles representatives on the MVSD board. “I don’t think we can say [the well is responsible] at this time, and I don’t think we can rule it out either.”

The MVSD has hired consultant firm Gannett Fleming Engineers and Architects of Harrisburg, Pa., to investigate whether the quakes are responsible for the cracks. A draft report of the consultant’s findings is expected to be submitted to the district later this month.

Holloway said he anticipates a board review before releasing the findings publicly.

“We didn’t have earthquakes before and we haven’t had them since [the well] was shut down,” said Barry Steffey, D-4th, council finance chairman.

Meanwhile, Atty. Matthew Blair, MVSD board president, sent a letter to council President Robert Marino questioning the timing of the roundtable and the attendance of two city officials – Councilman Frank Pezzano, D-1st, and Anthony Vigorito Sr., building and zoning inspector – at recent MVSD meetings, which are open to the public.

“I will not speculate as to the motive of their attendance, but [it] did not occur until an issue arose regarding who will serve as our Chief Engineer,” Blair wrote. The district is considering either hiring an individual or a consulting firm to replace Holloway.

Vigorito is the father of Anthony Vigorito, current superintendent of operations, who was removed as chief engineer after failing to achieve the Class IV license and professional engineer certification required of the position.

Pezzano was quick to respond to Blair’s insinuations.

“I wonder why there is any concern about my attendance,” Pezzano said.

Meanwhile, Holloway had some good news for council that the current rates charged by MVSD will stay in place for at least five years.

“The plan is to have no increases before 2022,” he said.