Mayor says aging system needs to be replaced

SOUTH POINT — Mayor Jeff Gaskin said it’s time for the village to begin considering ways to pay for replacing parts of the aging water system in South Point.

At Thursday’s meeting of council, he asked members to be thinking about ways to generate revenue to pay for costs.

Gaskin proposed the idea of, at some point, adopting an ordinance that would  raise water rates annually.

“This would be so we don’t have to come along every three years and raise it,” he said.

Gaskin said some parts of the water system, particularly those in the oldest sections of the village, date back about 60 years.

“Sooner or later, we’re going to be in big trouble if we don’t replace our infrastructure,” he said.

He said officials had been “kicking” the problem down the road, for 10-15 years.

“Now, it’s up to us he said,” noting the village is not alone among those in the state in facing the issue of an older water system.

He said he has been asking residents on his Facebook page for input and ideas on how they would like to see things funded.

Gaskin also spoke of the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendations for South Point to have higher water rates and adopt a meter system.

The mayor was adamant that the village, which has one of the lowest water rates in the state, would not be going to meters.

“We will fight meters as long as we can,” he said, noting that the issue is raised every election year, but no plans are in place to do so and he does not foresee it happening.

The council was also informed that bids on replacing four clarifiers for the sewer system had come back significantly higher than anticipated.

“It was about $100,000 more than we expected,” Gaskin said, stating they had originally anticipated a price of $625,000 and that the supplier, Walker Equipment, did not include everything needed to do the job when calculating the estimate.

“We’re a little upset,” he said. “We thought we had a good price from our supplier.”

He said the village engineer would work with the company to see about bringing down the price.

If needed, he said they could make do with replacing only three of the clarifiers.

Gaskin said the replacement is much needed, as the clarifiers date to 1972 and parts have to be manufactured on request, rather than simply ordered. He said if they failed, it would be a “significant hardship” for the village.

“We say a prayer every day that they won’t fail,” he said, adding that one is currently down.

He said only the operating parts need to be replaced, while the concrete vessels are in “good shape.”

In other business, the council:

• Opened with a moment of silence, at the mayor’s request, for former Lawrence County Commissioner Don Lambert, who died Saturday at age 86.

“I don’t think there was anyone who would help you like Don Lambert,” Bill Van Bibber, village chaplain, said. “I don’t think I ever worked around a better man than what he was. He was a good man. We don’t have many of those, but he was, until the day he died.”

• Heard from Linda May, of People for the Point, who thanked the village for its financial support of the group’s fireworks event. She also praised the police presence at the event,

• Gaskin also commended village administrator Russ McDonald, who he said picked up the trash and cleaned up the village park following the festivities.

• Heard from a village resident who was concerned about people continuing to let fireworks off following the holiday, particularly in the neighborhood of a woman under home hospice care.

Gaskin pointed out that under Ohio law, fireworks must be taken out of state 48 hours after purchase and that any set off by residents were illegal. Police Chief Chris Mahjer advised that officers be contacted regarding their use, noting that the department can be dispatched through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.

• Voted 6-0 to authorize the Lawrence County engineer slip repair on Fourth Street East, at no cost to the village.

• Voted to trade in a 2008 model backhoe and to purchase a 2017 model, to be paid off in three years.

• Heard from Mahjer, who said methamphetamine use is beginning to make a comeback in the area and that the department is retooling to address it.  He said as police have had success tackling the problem of heroin, there has been a resurgence of meth in many villages and towns.

• Heard from Gaskin, who spoke on the two-mill Lawrence County EMS levy which will appear on the ballot this fall.

“I would appreciate it if everyone can learn what you can and support the levy,” Gaskin, who works for EMS when not serving part-time as the village’s mayor, said.