by Brent Hovey
Reporter
Aurora -- The long developing water line project along East Garfield and Eggleston roads was approved April 28 but some City Council reps weren't pleased the plans were different from previous versions.
The project was engineered and broken into four parts. Originally, Mayor Lynn McGill and Service Director John Trew thought the city could afford only Part A running from Route 306 to Eggleston.
It will result in a 12-inch line on the north side of the street, replacing the one on the south side that has been in use since 1927.
Parts B to D would take the water line under the Chagrin River and in a loop around Eggleston and the Homestead subdivision.
McGill said while officials were doing the engineering, they noticed storm sewer lines were not working properly and the sidewalk was in bad shape. So he had sidewalk improvements added to the project.
The city expected the entire project to cost about $3.2 million, but the bids came in lower than expected -- "$2.1 million for the entire project," McGill said.
"The money is available," McGill said. "It will be necessary to loop the line in the future [to satisfy the Ohio EPA's water regulations, currently being revamped], so we decided to do it now when the price is low."
THE OHIO EPA is revamping all regulations in regard to water, and looping is one of them. When Cleveland water comes to Aurora, McGill said the EPA will watch closely to see how that project is handled.
Looping means connecting parts of the system rather than running lines to a deadend, so water circulates better, does not develop bateria and saves water.
The project was passed by a 6-2 vote, with John Kudley and Joe Kastelic voting "no" and Carl Rausch absent.
But even those who voted for it did so reluctantly, because April 28 was the first time Council was asked to approve the entire project.
"When we were first told about the project, it was to replace the main line," said Ward 2 Councilman Dennis Kovach.
"Looking at it now, because of the safety hazard, we need to loop the water line, but that should have been discussed at the beginning."
Kovach said he also is not pleased about adding sidewalks along Route 82 for two reasons -- cutting down trees and where the sidewalks lead to.
"I was looking at the plans [in Service Director John] Trew's office and they show trees are going to be cut down," Kovach said. "Then, I'm told at the meeting they won't be when it says on the plans they will be.
"Where are people going to walk on them? Up the hill? It's ridiculous. Put sidewalks where they look good and should be, not where they [pedestrians] can be hurt by traffic and put in danger."
McGill said putting in the sidewalks will help residents with flooding problems.
"There are different elevations along the road," he said. "We can change those and make more of level sidewalk. It will help properties with water in their front yards by having a catch basin, and it will look a lot better, too."
KUDLEY SAID he wasn't op-posed to the water line, but to the extension up Route 82 and down Eggleston. He pointed out the city is in the process of trying to pull the water and sewer funds out of the red.
"Our current manner of funding both will not meet our needs in the future. Council should have considered alternative means of funding before approving the additional [water line] extensions," Kudley said.
He added approving additional construction down Eggleston is premature.
"The administration is banking on the hope that the economy will rebound and construction will pick up," he said.
"However, you can't spend now based on the hope there will be funds in the future, which may never materialize. We basically spent the money, and now will meet after the fact to discuss the prudence of that decision."
Construction on the water line should start within a few months, Trew said. The city is working to get easements from some residents, and with businesses to lessen the burden the project will create.
Once construction starts, McGill said it should take about eight months.
E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115