WELLSVILLE — Two major projects for the Buckeye Water District are close to completion.

District manager Al DeAngelis reported during Thursday’s Board of Trustees matteing that road paving on the Hibbetts Mill water line extension project has been completed, which included repaving, blacktopping and sealing Lisbon Street, Wells Avenue, state Route 45 and near the village marina.

Board president Mike Ryan advised fellow board members to visit the areas and see if there are any problems or issues with the new project, but stated based on what he saw before the meeting, the paving looked good.

In his report, DeAngelis added contractors will also be working on any remaining items on the final punch list being prepared by the district’s engineer-of-record, Dallis Dawson and Associates.

The project was anticipated to be completed last February. However officials stated Xpress Underground had not completed all tasks under contract to complete and were advised to return and not stop working until it was compled.

Another project nearly completed is the Salineville water tank replacement project, which Ryan and DeAngelis stated construction of the tank has been completed, and it has been filled and is now in use. Ryan stated a fence is among the only items left to be installed before the project is considered complete.

The Salineville tank replaced a previous container, which had its roof collapsed in the winter of 2016 following a storm which included large amounts of ice, snow and rain.

In a separate matter, DeAngelis reported one of the district’s split case raw water pumps had malfunctioned again and the manufacturer, Deming, was contacted about the issue.

“The screws snapped again on the shaft on the impeller,” DeAngelis said. “They came back, they put bigger screws in the impeller, and so they’re hoping that it works.”

Meanwhile in public comment, DiLoreto Construction owner Mike DiLoreto provided an update on the status on homeowners throughout Frederick Heights who expressed strong interest in receiving service through BWD.

DiLoreto informed the board he plumbed in the water to the meter pit and it is ready to tap in whenever possible. There are two other houses in the area that will be built there in the next few weeks, he said.

“We’ve got the infrastructure in,” DiLoreto said. “We’re ready for you guys to bring water past us and to tap in.”

At the May 17 BWD board meeting, DiLoreto was joined alongside St. Clair Township Trustee James Sabatini, who presented a petition with 136 signatutes of 156 residences from Old Fredericktown Road asking for BWD’s services.

Sabatini stated then, and reiterated at the St. Clair Township trustees’ meeting last week, residents there experience quantity and quality issues: either there’s not enough water for some residents to use, or for those who have a large amount of water to work with, the quality is poor.

District officials have stated on several occasions they have wanted to extend services to Frederick Heights, but a lack of funding has prevented the district further work.

DiLoreto said he and St. Clair Township officials have spoken with state Rep. Tim Ginter (R-Salem), who provided some funding options on the water situation.

Those options included applying for grants through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); a house bill in the works that would allow a company to manage the water infrastructure in the township through an agreement moderated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO); and to work directly with the Environmental Protection Agency, the third option of which could bring the potential for more funding.

“Just letting you know that there are some options out there,” DiLoreto said. “If you can, maybe reach out to Rep. Ginter. He knows what’s going on.”

Ryan re-emphasized the district is interested in the project, but funding is needed.

“The Engineering Committee and the Finance Committee have been looking at it the whole time, so we want to do it,” Ryan said. “We would like to get it off our plate.”

In other business, trustees approved the May Treasurer’s Report, which showed the general operating account’s revenues of $261,166.28 and expenditures of $282,837.75, while its construction account saw $264,263.87 in revenue and $185,923.55 in expenses. The report was recommended by the Finance Committee, which reviewed the May findings on Wednesday.

In addition, the board entered into executive session to discuss the potential purchase of property. No action was taken.

The next regular trustees meeting will be 9 a.m. July 19 at Wellsville Village Hall on Main Street.