ThisWeek CW 03/07/2013
Canal Winchester City Council is considering an ordinance that sets the terms by which the city and Lithopolis will provide emergency water service to each other, when needed.
The legislation is connected to the $2.13-million Tank Town project, which will affect a large area of historic Canal Winchester. It’s the largest project to get started in the city this year.
Once completed, it will enable the city to provide water service to neighboring Lithopolis in case of emergency.
The Tank Town project involves the installation of new water mains, sidewalk improvements and road repaving on West Street; water line upgrades on Trine, Park, Beck and Elizabeth streets, West Alley, Mohican Court and Cherokee Court; new water lines, curbs and pavement as well as storm water improvements on Highland Avenue and Water Street; new water lines and roadway resurfacing on Jennings, Kramer and East Fairfield streets; and new water lines, curb repairs and new roadway pavement on Beatty Street.
According to the ordinance, which was slated for a second reading at council’s March 4 meeting, either community “may refuse or restrict such surplus or emergency supply if, in the opinion of the Canal Winchester Director of Public Service/Lithopolis Mayor, or their designees, the water supply available would be inadequate.”
Canal Winchester’s public service director and the mayor of Lithopolis must approve any emergency sharing of water.
The ordinance also stipulates that Canal Winchester will pay to install and maintain a connection to Lithopolis’ water line and Lithopolis will install and maintain a booster station.
“We had just a few things left that we’ve worked out with Lithopolis now, so council will have an agreement before it to vote on with Lithopolis,” Public Service Director Matt Peoples said. “It’ll take some time for the construction to go on for the connection and we’ll be ready for the actual hook up in like three months.”
Construction Services Administrator Bill Sims said work is expected to start on the Tank Town project by early March. The city will use CT Consulting to do construction inspection work and will pay the company as needed for materials and time throughout the life of the project.