WELLSVILLE – The Buckeye Water District Board of Trustees Thursday adopted a loan resolution for the incurrence of indebtedness.

The loan, which is through the United States Department of Agriculture for water system improvements, is for $985,000.

District Manager Al DeAngeles told the board members the loan is for the bonds for the Hibbetts Mill Project Phase 2.

President David Dawson said he was concerned over the section of a not to exceed dollar amount that was left blank.

DeAngeles explained that it is typically left blank in case more money is needed. He also said that the board would have to have a special meeting to accept the terms of the loan.

A resolution was also adopted to establish a sick leave hour carryover by new employee Jasmin Young.

Young was previously employed by an Ohio public agency from which she had 101.14 hours of sick leave accumulated. The board approved the hours to be carried over to her employment with the BWD.

DeAngelis in his report told the board that they were installing four hydrants at $3,500 each in some of the further outlying areas of the district.

He also said that the 750,000-gallon storage tank has been taken out of service. The BWD wanted to do a test run to make sure the system runs fine because the tank will be out of commission for repair for two months. He noted that everything was running fine. The repair on the tank will begin at the end of June.

He told the board that HB92, which is before the State House, if passed will prohibit the BWD from billing landlords for unpaid bills of tenants, and this would result in those bills being passed to paying customers.

He said that no one came and talked to the anyone in the BWD to ask their thoughts on the issue, which he believes they should have, and that it was two representatives from this area who sponsored the bill. He also said the BWD has an idea on what they may do and how they will offset the cost, but until that happens, they are not going to take any action.

DeAngelis said that the BWD submitted an application for WSRLA funding through the Ohio EPA for the state Route 45 tank. The BWD has received plans for the state Route 45 water transmission main and there are still some remaining items that need to be achieved before the project can go out to bid.

The BWD applied for Congressionally Directed Spending for FY2027 for which the BWD received support letters from the Columbiana County Commissioners Office, as well as St. Clair and Madison townships. This grant would be used to fund the 1-million-gallon tank project.

The Hibbitts Mills Waterline Project has gone out for bid. A pre-bid meeting will be held on April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Wellsville Village Hall, and a bid opening will be held on April 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the BWD district office.

DeAngeles also noted that the BWD had their water tested for PFAS, and there was none found in their water.

The Distribution Crew fixed two weeks last month.

The minutes from the March 19 minutes, the treasurer’s report, operation report and district manager report were accepted and approved as presented to the board.

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 May 21.

Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com