The October Board of Public Affairs meeting commenced at 5:00 p.m. with Board Member Ben Coll leading the session. The meeting included Board Member Michael Sherer, Solicitor William Mason, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Sheehan, Council President Tom Hardesty, Fiscal Officer Donna Love, and local resident Robyn Morris. Board President Ed Maresh was absent from the meeting.
The Board moved to approve the minutes from the previous September 11, 2024, meeting, with consent from Sherer and Coll following a motion from Sherer and seconded by Coll. Fiscal Officer Donna Love then presented the financial reports, noting a need for additional appropriations to cover inspection services on the ongoing Windham Street Water Main Project. With a motion from Coll, seconded by Sherer, the Board approved the financial report unanimously.
Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Sheehan presented his report on the Water and Wastewater Department. Key updates included:
Windham Street Water Main Project: Fabrizi Trucking and Paving has completed the installation of 8-inch piping and is ahead of schedule on the water tap installations. Contaminated soil was successfully removed from the staging area.
Repairs and Environmental Concerns: A water main break on Freedom Street was repaired. Sheehan also informed the Board of a discharge of cleaning compounds by Thermo-link into a nearby ditch, the GFN Fire Department and the Ohio EPA were notified.
Coll reported no new well permits issued in Portage and Geauga Counties as part of the Garrettsville watershed monitoring program.
Sheehan shared that progress on the lead service replacement plan is advancing, with a finalized mapping report of lead service lines anticipated by October 11, 2024. Additionally, Well #20 has been running smoothly for the past two months.
Two residents, Robyn Morris and Tracy Wem, requested waivers of their sewer surcharges due to recent water leaks. With neither having used their one-time waiver previously, the Board approved both requests unanimously.
Sheehan reported that 713,000 gallons of water had been used in September for line flushing, with Freedom Street requiring thirteen flushes to maintain water quality. To improve efficiency, Sheehan suggested moving Freedom Street’s service line connections from the older line to the newer line already in place, potentially completing the work in-house, he plans to gather more information for the November meeting.
Sheehan also noted a miscalculation in the quoted cost for replacing two service pumps. The cost, initially estimated at $5,000, actually exceeded $10,000. The Board approved Sheehan’s request for additional funds, not exceeding $5,800, to cover the expense.
A separate concern was raised regarding the school’s hesitancy to water its football field due to sewer charges. Sheehan proposed that the Board consider allowing a separate meter installation to track water use for the field without the associated sewer surcharge. Coll expressed interest in this option, pending further information. Sherer and Coll agreed that Maresh should be part of any decision making.
Sheehan consulted Solicitor Mason about the procedural requirements for executive session listings on agendas. Mason recommended that “executive session” be included on agendas for all meetings, regardless of anticipated need. The board can always choose to disregard the executive session if it is not needed.
