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South Amherst discusses water-system options as council recommends K.E. McCartney for municipal engineering
Summary
Council recommended negotiating with K.E. McCartney for municipal engineering services, reviewed a steep drop in reported water loss (from 51% last year to about 6% this year), and reaffirmed earlier findings that outside water authorities previously declined to take over the village system due to loan and infrastructure conditions.
Utility Administrator David Valentine reported to the council that three firms responded to a municipal engineering RFQ (Jones & Henry, K.E. McCartney, and Karpinski) and recommended negotiating a contract with K.E. McCartney based on the firm's local experience, grant-search work and county relationships; the council voted to authorize negotiating a contract, with no specific timeline given.
Valentine also presented the water/storm consumption report: last year’s system loss was reported at about 51%, but the current-year loss is down to roughly 6%. He announced upcoming spring hydrant maintenance and that the system chlorinator will be turned on after delivery and installation of a new probe by Prominent. Councilmember Mark Leshinski raised the option of exiting the village water business and solicited alternatives; minutes record that a prior review by the Rural Lorain County Water Authority concluded it would not assume system loans, wanted full replacement of all water lines and exterior meters installed at owners’ expense, and would not use the existing tower — making take-over financially infeasible at that time. Council asked Leshinski to re-explore alternatives.
Council also discussed speed-limit signage on Main Street (spacing guideline of 1,500 feet versus 1,000 feet) after Leshinski flagged signage frequency and the mayor said lack of signage is a frequent complaint in Mayor's Court.
