FR approves ordinance

By RAY COONEY
The Commercial Review
FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery took a step to ensure its water stays safe.
Fort Recovery Village Council at its meeting Tuesday approved an ordinance that allows the superintendent of water to require outside water systems to install devices that will prevent backflow.
The council also discussed the timeline for its upcoming sewer separation project, which is scheduled to begin in November, and recommended a local bank look at other options for handicapped accessibility after reviewing a proposed plan.
Fort Recovery village administrator Randy Diller recommended the ordinance regarding protection against backflow of water.
The ordinance will allow the superintendent of water to require installation of a backflow prevention device in situations in which he/she deems it “necessary for the safety of the public water system.” Such a device would keep outside water from flowing back into the village’s system, which could contaminate the water supply.
“This is something the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been prodding us to get on the books for quite a while,” said Diller. “It gives us the authority to prevent backflow protection in different situations.”
The EPA recommends such devices be installed at a variety of area businesses, including funeral homes, car washes, restaurants, pharmacies and mobile home parks, Diller said. Such projects have already been completed at Brockman-Boeckman Funeral Home and Fort Recovery Car Wash.
Diller and superintendent of water Ryan Thien are currently working with the owners Broadway Mobile Home Court on a similar project, and Diller told the council he felt it was important to have an ordinance on the books.
Council members Dave Garman, Al Post, Dave Kaup, Scott Pearson, Dave Retz and Rod Thobe passed the ordinance unanimously.
Diller also told the council the project at Broadway Mobile Home Court will include installation of a master water meter. Currently, water is only metered at each trailer.
“Anything that’s lost in the park, which is happening frequently, is unmetered,” Diller said. “So we’re going to meter everything that goes in.
“We want to make sure we can control that loss.”
The new master meter will be monitored and the mobile home park will receive a monthly bill for any water that is lost between the main meter and each individual mobile home, Diller said.
Diller then updated council members on plans for Phase II of the village’s sewer separation project. Plans call for the first part of Phase II, which includes work on Railroad, First, Alder, Balsam, St. Clair, Broadway, Oak, First, High and Wagoner streets, to begin Nov. 1. (See graphic on page 1.)
The project, which is being handled by Tom’s Construction of St. Henry, Ohio, is scheduled to be completed July 31, 2014.
The council also discussed a request from Second National Bank, 117 N. Wayne St., to build a handicapped ramp on the sidewalk in front of the bank, which is in the village’s right of way.
Council members expressed concerns about creating a dangerous traffic situation because the request called for the ramp to end near an alley. They also said they worried about setting a precedent that would then allow other businesses to build ramps in the right of way.
There was no vote, but council members agreed to recommend the bank look at other options.
In other business, the council:
•Learned from Diller that Brenneman Excavating is working on 15 manholes to bring them even with street level. Most of those on South Elm Street (Ohio 49) and Center Street.
The manhole covers were above the level of the road’s surface, which caused problems for snowplows during the winter.
•Got an update about plans to add a bay to the village street barn located behind the FRHS baseball field on Water Street. Foundation work for the new bay, which will be built on 0.4 acres of land purchased from Fort Recovery Schools, could begin this year.
•Heard a report from Diller about a problem with wiring at the village’s water plant. Mercer Electric put in a temporary system to keep the plant operational while the wires are being replaced.
There was no interruption in water service.
•Agreed to close the brick portion of Wayne Street, south of Butler Street, from 2 p.m. Sept. 28 to 1 a.m. Sept. 29 for Brickfest, a Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters fundraising event. The festival will include activities for children in the afternoon and a broadcast of the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin football game on a large outdoor screen at 8 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]