WELLSVILLE – The Buckeye Water District (BWD) Board of Trustees Thursday adopted two resolutions regarding personnel policies.

The first resolutions approved the revising and amending the employee handbook and personnel policies and the modifications to the rate of new hire employees and minimum over time compensation.

The second resolution approved the waiving of the five years of experience with water distribution as a requirement for the position of distribution crew chief and the promotion of Seth Bradford to the position of distribution crew leader for a 90-day trial period.

The board also approved the hiring of a clerk 1, a plant operator and a distribution mechanic.

District Manager Al DeAngelis told the board in his report that the Hibbitts Mill project was going out for bid within the next couple of weeks, and he would be meeting with trustees next week to go over a few things about it.

The BWD took some of their equipment to the county auction, and the items sold for $37,000. DeAngelis anticipates the BWD receiving about $34,000 to $35,000 after the auction percentage is taken.

The BWD received a grant through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for $22,661.84 which will be applied toward the purchase of a valve exercising machine, and they have also received confirmation that the BWD has qualified for a cybersecurity grant. DeAngelis noted that the BWD applied for a $20,000 grant and that the Ohio Department of Public Safety is anticipating final approval in the next quarter.

The BWD has received the NWP (Nation Wide Permit) from the Army Corps of Engineers for the Beaver Creek Waterline Project for which the engineering for the project is 55% completed.

The BWD applied for WSRLA funding for the state Route 45 tank in Wellsville.

DeAngelis also said in his report that the BWD has been informed by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) that the new standards for corrosion control will be implemented at the beginning of 2028 and the BWD has had discussions with the OEPA on the corrosion control requirements.

The BWD Clearwell will have a washout inspection, and the Spring Hill Tank will have a visual inspection by USG water.

During the last month the BWD has fixed nine leaks and completed one tap.

DeAngelis said it was a hectic month, and a lot of people had frozen lines.

DeAngelis asked the trustees if there was a way to get all the fire chiefs together so they could have a discussion with them.

DeAngelis said there was an issue, which he noted wasn’t a big one, but just something that happened. He said that when a hydrant is tapped and they aren’t aware of it they begin looking around to find leaks, and they had a fire department using a hydrant for training and were not aware of it until afterwards. So, he wants to let the fire chiefs know to notify the BWD ahead of time, so they are aware of it.

Minutes from the Feb. 19 meeting were approved and The Operations Report, Treasurer’s Report, and District Manager were approved as presented.

There were no bid openings, project reports or old or new business.

The Buckeye Water District Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall, 1200 Main St. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 16.