Fort Recovery council passes water-plant resolution and moves forward on tower, third-well siting study

The Village of Fort Recovery council on Oct. 21 passed Resolution 2024-11 authorizing village staff to sign documents related to the local water-plant project, and staff said they will advance required site studies and construction milestones.

Randy Diller, who reported the staff update to the council, said the resolution grants him authority to sign paperwork needed to move the water-plant effort into the design phase. He told council the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires at minimum that a third-well siting be documented before the village can file final design materials. "This is not a bad thing to have on file," Diller said, describing the siting as a preparatory requirement.

Diller estimated a siting study would cost about $16,000–$17,000 and said he would obtain an updated estimate and proceed so the design submittal is not delayed. He also reported the village received approval for initial water-plant steps at the committee level; he said the committee will act Nov. 1 to complete that review.

On the larger infrastructure timetable, Diller said contractor work on the new water tower is proceeding: a major concrete pour was planned, after which piping and backflow work can be completed and steel components delivered. He said tower construction is expected to begin after the new year and remain on target for summer 2025 completion.

No specific funding sources or federal/state grant awards were listed in the council minutes; Diller said only that he would update the council with refined cost estimates as they become available. The council recorded the resolution passage in the minutes and has scheduled follow-up committee review and design filings in the coming weeks.