By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Discussions on the possibility of a rolling infrastructure assessment revealed the concerning state of the village’s aging sanitary sewer system during the Swanton Village Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday.
The meeting, held in conjunction with the regular council meeting, was focused on how best to determine both the status of critical infrastructure and short- and long-term schedules for associated repairs and purchases.
During his report, Division of Public Service Shop Foreman Zack Holdridge shared an update on the issues facing the sewer system.
According to Holdridge and corroborated by Village Administrator Shannon Shulters, there are several issues at play, including the questionable decisions decades ago to install a sewer line alongside the railroad tracks where constant vibration causes extra wear and tear, and a permit being issued for a barn to be built directly on top of a sewer line.
Holdridge said the line under the barn has dirt being pressed into it through the junctions between pieces of pipe.
He said if the line were to need fully replaced, the village would have to excavate the concrete floor of the barn in order to reach it.
He also pointed out the sheer age of lines throughout the village, mentioning the somewhat common incidence of lines collapsing when road projects are completed nearby, as well as blockages in the system.
Holdridge said the village also has several water lines that are 100 years old and older as well as some four-inch lines where they should be a minimum of six inches.
LITHIUM WATER READINGS
In his report to the committee, Superintendent of Water Purification and Distribution Ryan Yackee gave an update on lithium readings in the water supply from testing in October.
Yackee said the testing was related to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements and was completed in January, April, July, and October.
He said lithium was not detected in any of the other tests, and due to the fact that the village had to pump a total of roughly 50 million gallons of water from the deep well starting in August due to drought conditions causing the reservoir level to drop significantly, he believed it came from that well.
“It’s an unregulated contaminant so there’s not even [a maximum contaminant level] established for it, it’s not even monitored right now. The EPA added that on, they want to get a baseline of lithium levels across the country,” Yackee said.
He said the water tested at nine parts per billion for lithium, with the common benchmark limit being 10 parts per billion.
No other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) were detected, although Yackee said new testing regulations for those will start next year. He also reported THMs — trihalomethanes — are not detected at all in winter months and the highest he has seen was around 20 parts per billion where the limit is 80 parts per billion.
The committee discussed with Holdridge and Yackee the potential for expanding the current reservoir or digging an additional pool in land already owned by the village at the site of the current reservoir.
According to Councilman David Pilliod, a geological survey done before the land was purchased shows both that the land would hold water if dug out and that there is a large amount of valuable sand on top that could be sold for potentially millions of dollars.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on an emergency basis a resolution authorizing the addition of County Road 1 from north of the turnpike to County Road J to the next phase of the Hallett Avenue project.
The work will cost just under $170,000 and was added at the request of Fulton County officials.
Swanton will pay the cost up front, with the county reimbursing the village for the full amount afterward. Shulters reported work on the second phase will begin in early June.
Council members approved several financial actions by Shulters, including the creation of a new fund line under the village’s Water Resource Recovery Facility to cover costs related to the north pump station and the transfer of just under $30,000 into that fund, as well as another $50,000 transfer from one WRRF fund line to another in order to cover other costs.
Council members approved on final reading an ordinance increasing the fee for seasonal leaf collection by 50 cents to $15.50 per property.
Council members approved on final reading a resolution authorizing the zoning inspector to provide written approval to the Fulton County Regional Planning Commission for lot split requests.
Council members approved the change in status of firefighter/paramedic Grace Oakes from full time to part time effective May 23 following the birth of Oakes’ child.
Council members voted to postpone until their next meeting final approval of an ordinance increasing the fee for street lighting from $32 per property to $37 per property while they look into the possibility of First Energy carrying responsibility for lighting maintenance and the impact it would have on lighting fees for village residents.
After an executive session at the end of the public portion of the meeting, council members voted to give a $3,000 bonus to Shulters for her work as interim fiscal officer, as well as a $2,500 performance bonus for Holdridge.
Several people, including members of council and department heads, reported on the recent evacuation at Swanton High School, most sharing commendations.
Swanton Fire and Rescue Chief Cuyler Kepling also reported the school’s emergency response plan was executed perfectly, with the facility completely evacuated within four minutes and no interference of any kind with emergency responders doing their work.
Kepling reported his department had a slow month, with 72 EMS calls, two motor vehicle accidents, six fires, and seven public assists, between 30 and 40 calls fewer than normal.
Police Chief John Trejo reported an unknown individual or individuals have been tagging automatic license plate reader cameras in the area and that “we actually had ours cut down.”
He said there are currently no leads, and he has notified other local agencies about the activity.
Trejo reported his department responded to 330 calls for service in a busy May.
Trejo reported about 22 pounds of narcotic pills were collected during the department’s drug take-back day on April 29.
Trejo reported his department received a donation of an 8-by-32-foot enclosed trailer complete with heat and air conditioning from Firelands Health in Sandusky.
In the short term, the trailer will be used to store four pallets of village property being returned by Cousino Restoration after being salvaged from village offices after the fire.
Trejo and Mayor Neil Toeppe reported on a recent spill of biosolids on South Main Street on April 29, which was cleaned up by the Public Works Department.
Toeppe said the spill was reported to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency within 15 minutes per requirements.
By that time the police, fire, and public works departments were already on site managing the situation and beginning cleanup. The Fulton County Emergency Management Agency was also notified.
Shulters reported the village has re-advertised the fiscal officer position after the individual to whom council members voted to offer the job declined due to “personal considerations.” She said she is adjusting recruitment strategies related to the position.
Shulters announced that new protected left turn lights will soon be installed on Airport Highway at its intersection with South Main Street. She said she is getting quotes to have the intersection repaved and relined.
Shulters reported the Crestwood Drive project will begin sometime in July.
Shulters reported the spring bulk drop-off for village residents will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 8 a.m. until either 2 p.m. or when the dumpsters are full, whichever comes first. The dumpsters will be located next to the community center.
Toeppe read proclamations recognizing the April 24 celebration of Arbor Day, National Police Week from May 10 to 16, and National EMS Week from May 17 to 23.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 26, at Ritter Hall, 124 N. Main Street.
