ORWELL – Village administration briefed council on steps toward replacing the commercial and residential water meters and taking steps toward a new, monthly billing system during a Tuesday, July 14, work session.
Village Manager Dr. Sean Ratican said the cost to replace meters at the commercial sites will be around $65,000, with Grand Valley Local Schools accounting for $25,000 of that cost.
Kennametal Inc. would be a further $8,000, with the remainder costing between $2,000-$3,000, according to Ratican.
Ratican and the water department are working on a program to replace between 10-20 percent of residential meters each year, he added.
The new billing system is set to roll out by the autumn at the earliest, but no later than early 2027, according to Ratican.
With the village water system drawing on four wells now, Ratican told council that the Ohio EPA may not mandate drilling more wells.
In other business, $2.5 million in funding for a new ladder truck and renovation of the former Bob Sumeral Tire Co. building has arrived. Ratican said the renovation of the existing office area will cost an estimated $45,000 and updates to the security system – such as keyless entry – will cost a further $30,000-$50,000.
The village has been approved for a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission for a new wastewater clarifier, which Ratican said could cost an estimated $1.5 million. He said he would raise the subject of using the funds instead to repair the existing clarifier, at an estimate cost of $500,000.
Ratican said he’s been in discussions with the Windsor Township Fire Department to reach an arrangement for 24-hour service to all entities party to the agreement.
The next work session meeting of Orwell Village Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m. at Village Hall, 179 W. Main St., Orwell.
