Water Committee to meet over SNAWS

EDINBURG — The Village of Edinburg held a regular meeting on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

Before the raw water line project began, the Village of Edinburg was in discus- sions with Sharpsburg about possibly entering into a water line agreement. The agreement would be with the Sharpsburg and Neighboring Area Water System (SNAWS) which is linked with the Village of Stonington. A rough agree- ment with SNAWS was brought to the Board and thoroughly discussed. The whole idea behind the arrangement was to pro- vide a means of emergency water or a way of fulfilling a sudden high demands that either Village might face. It was written into the agreement that whoev- er is purchasing water must inform the other 24 hours before they begin to buy it, unless there was an emergency. The agree- ment also included a statement that only 100,000 gallons could be bought a day. However, Edinburg Water Superintendent Mike Lebshier said that right now, the Village could not meet that demand. He said, at best, the Village could provide around 90,000 gallons per day.

Village Attorney Rocci Romano said that they could work on the wording or come to an agreement that acknowledged that Edinburg could not meet that demand right now. He also wanted Sharpsburg to be aware of a few things aside from that. With what was written in the agreement, water would cost $5.75 per 1,000 gallons purchased, but Romano suggested coming up with a formula based on how much was being produced and the cost. And if the Village could not provide the water, they did not have to. The agreement was written so that Edinburg could take care of their own customers first. He also said that the Village of Edinburg would pay for the water lines and meter installation for the project, but that Sharpsburg would be responsible for a pump station should one be needed. Sharpsburg would own the equipment and the meters, but Edinburg would be able to inspect and help pay costs to keep them running well. The contract was for ten years and would renew automat- ically unless terminated.

Trustees voiced some concerns of their own about the SNAWS agreement. While they had no issues with helping out, they did not want to become the sole provider of water for Sharpsburg and out neighboring areas. There was also concern about how much of an increased cost would need to be added on to the cus- tomers to pay for the project. And it was also brought up that Edinburg itself might soon lose their only qualified personnel who could run the water systems. Water Superintendent Mike Lebshier wanted to retire within the next decade, and if the Village did not get a qualified and licensed replacement, then they might end up relying on SNAWS for all the Village’s water, which no one wanted.

Romano suggested the Water Committee get together with SNAWS and talk, to see if they wanted to go forward with the project or make any changes.

On the subject of water projects, Romano said that the July 27 meeting with the property owners impacted by the raw water line project went well. He said he felt they were well received and that everything was going smoothly. As of the meeting, Romano said he had three signatures out of the fourteen needed for the project to go forward.

Mike Blakeman was present to give the annual audit. The Village, as usual, was looking rather financially solid. There were some drops in funds and increases in expenditures, but those were easi- ly explained. The gas fund loosing money came from the sudden cold snap that made the Village have to purchase gas to keep the residents warm. Since the Village has not yet collected back from the customers all the money that was spent, that fund was lower than normal. But Blakeman said it was fine. Overall, he said the Village was doing well.

At the meeting, longtime officer James Dowdy resigned citing his health. The Board wanted to thank Dowdy for his many years of service, not only as an officer, but also as a Board Trustee and helping out whenever he was needed.

The Board decided to wait on the Martin Max service agreement since there was no rush to finish it. They approved the ordinance putting in a 4- way stop sign at Lincoln and Foggit streets.

Also approved at the meeting:

-Minutes

– July ($84,828.46) and August ($30,808.76) bills The next meeting of the

Village of Edinburg will be held on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall.