SALINEVILLE Buckeye Water District does not want village-owned property near the nearly defunct water plant, but until Village Council accepts that fact, work on a new waterline has been halted.

Council tabled action on a memorandum of understanding between the village and BWD at its last meeting, saying the document was unclear in regard to who will hold ownership of the water plant and surrounding property once the line is installed.

Village Solicitor Peter Horvath was directed at the meeting to contact BWD attorney Fred Emmerling about a clarification.

The contract has been awarded for continuation of the waterline from near Southern Local Schools into the village, but work cannot proceed without the memorandum of agreement being signed.

At a meeting Wednesday of BWD's engineering committee, district Manager Al DeAngelis said while the waterline itself will become the property of BWD, the plant itself must be torn down, leaving the reservoir intact.

Councilman Linda Beadnell said at the recent meeting that village residents have used the property for many years, and she would like to see that continue.

DeAngelis said, "We don't want the property," but he said BWD would like to come to some agreement, such as a lease, to utilize an existing metal building on the property for storage.

Salineville Council meets in regular session at 7 p.m. Monday, at which time the issue may be revisited.