WELLSVILLE - A little less than a mile of pipe remains to be installed in the first phase of a waterline to the village of Salineville, and that should be completed by month's end.

This was the good news shared Wednesday by contractor Dave Sugar with the Buckeye Water District's engineering committee during its bi-weekly progress meeting.

However, the news wasn't all good, with a few problems also discussed that Sugar said should not delay the project much.

He reported about 1,100 feet has been skipped in the installation at this point due to a creek that comes within a few feet of state Route 39.

Since it is a "good flowing" creek, Sugar said, the Environmental Protection Agency has prohibited the contractor from re-routing it, meaning a directional bore may be needed to go underneath.

This will add more cost to the project but should not cause much of a delay, he told the committee.

Board President Mike Ryan said he wants to see the cost before the directional bore is done, and board member Tim O'Hara asked whether this was an issue from the beginning, saying, "I don't like surprises."

Jon Blair from the engineering firm of Dallis Dawson & Associates said it was initially believed the pipe could "squeeze through" without the creek being a problem, but that was not the case.

Also posing somewhat of a problem are some underground telephone lines where "premium" fill will be required and a storm drain that the Ohio Department of Transportation has told Sugar he has no permit to install.

Blair and Ryan both said a permit does, in fact, exist and a copy will be provided to ODOT.

Sugar said 4,800 feet of pipe still needs laid as well as 1,100 feet in the creek area.

He also reported the repaving of all township roads disturbed by the project would be completed by yesterday, and district Manager Al DeAngelis said Madison Trustee Mint Cook has asked to accompany BWD officials and contractors on township roads to make sure they have been done to trustees' satisfaction.

Ryan said the district wants trustees satisfied with the work but said they are not happy with reclamation from state Route 45 to Crews Road.

Sugar said a resident on state Route 39 complained about equipment parked on his lot, even though it was within the right of way and he said it was moved and that area will be avoided in the future when parking equipment.

Blair was urged to treat preparation of engineering plans for Crews Road as a priority, with Ryan questioning initial plans that call for the waterline to be laid on the left side of the roadway. More discussion will be forthcoming.

Ryan also said he wants all valves and hydrants accounted for after some question was raised about how many hydrants were added to the original plan.

"I don't want any surprises at the end of this project," he said.

Sugar said between $40,000 and $50,000 was saved by eliminating some valves and said the project should be "under or close" to the original cost.

He expects the waterline to be ready for use by mid-January. The second phase, taking the line into Salineville, is set to get under way soon.