Water meter replacement to begin soon

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

At long last, Van Wert’s water meter replacement project will soon get underway.

It was supposed to begin last fall but supply chain issues caused months of delays. During Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, Safety-Service Director Jay Flaming said June 20 is when the process will begin.

“We’re going to try to do this over a three month period, with 10 days in June to get started as a trial date, along with July, August and September,” Fleming said. “The meters we install from June 20 to July 27, that group, once they’re installed, will be read and converted to monthly billing. Then we’ll do the same thing with meters installed in (the rest of) July, August and September.”

“The goal is when the October 1 bill comes out, everyone in the city will be on 30-day monthly billing, so we’re going to hammer through it this summer,” he added.

Fleming also gave an update on levels of TTHM (total trihalomethanes) that have been slightly above drinking water standards. He said after studying the matter, it appears the higher levels are coming from the city’s water towers.

“They’re leaving the plant at about 0.048 TTHM and in the distribution system we’re averaging about 0.075 – that would be water that went to the water tower then back out for consumption,” Fleming said.

A consulting firm hired by the city suggested putting mixers in the water towers to help correct the problem but Fleming said that’s a complicated and expensive process, with a price tag of $750,000 paid out over three years.

“Before we do that, we’ve had a clarifier issue at the (water) plant that’s forced us to rebuild a clarifier,” he explained. “That’s how we soften the water and treat for taste and odors and organics. Because of this we’re going to reverse some flow through the plant processes where we can introduce some activated carbon and see if we can get a better handle on TTHMs before it leaves the plant.”

In somewhat related news, city council approved an ordinance allowing Fleming to advertise, bid and ward contracts for the replacement of the roof to the water plant.

Council members also approved the final reading of an ordinance making the first parking spot on the west side of S. Jefferson St. and the first parking spot on the west side of N. Jefferson St. handicap parking spots.

After a brief discussion, council voted to table an ordinance that would create angle parking on between the railroad tracks and Town Creek on the west side of Jefferson St. During the April 24 meeting, it was suggested that council consider reverse angle parking. A hearing to gather public input on the matter was scheduled for 6 p.m. May 22, in Council Chambers.

Mayor Ken Marward informed council members that Joan Stripe is retiring from the Brumback Library Board of Trustees and recommended Leslie Wilkin as her replacement, a suggestion that was given immediate approval.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 22, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St., with the public hearing slated to begin 30 minutes prior to that.