BARNESVILLE At its Monday meeting, Barnesville Village Council decided to allow Rockies Express Pipeline to use water from the Slope Creek Reservoir for testing the REX gas pipeline.

A new estimate from REX regarding the amount of water to be used has relieved council's concerns about the impact on the water at the reservoir.

REX is also offering the village $25,000 for the use of the water as well as an easement, Barnesville Economic Developer Bill Knox told council.

Previously, council believed that REX would need 11 million gallons of water for each of the two tests one in August and a second in September. However, REX has informed the village that it will be using 11 million gallons total, about 5 million gallons per test. This is expected to lower the water level at the reservoir by two or three inches at the end of testing.

REX's plans will need to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Knox added.

Council discussed whether the water should be returned to the reservoir following testing. Council President Dale Bunting, who voted against allowing REX to use the water, said the water will not be returned to the reservoir.

Changes to the village's health insurance plan were also discussed at the meeting.

Council is considering amending the health plan to include a deductible. The new plan would include a $1,000 deductible for single and a $2,000 for family. This deductible would be paid for by the village.

Village Clerk Amy Jackson said the village can expect $11,000 in savings when switching to that plan. This figure is based on an estimate of 25 percent of village employees using their deductible. Worst-case scenario, if all employees used their deductible, the village would lose $10,000, Jackson said.

Village employees would continue to have the same coverage as before. Jackson added that in addition to the village-paid deductible, employees will also pay a reduced premium.

Council is still considering its options and will make a decision at a later meeting.

Shelly and Sands, Inc., of Rayland was awarded the bid for the village's paving project. The $194,791.80 bid was the lowest of four bids received.

Shelly and Sands' bid came in at about $35,000 less than originally estimated. Council is hoping to use those savings to pave more of the streets in the project.

The $230,000 project is funded by an Ohio Public Works Grant $170,000 from OPWC with a village match of $60,000. It will include the repaving of a portion, if not all, of the village's 14 streets.

Also at Monday's meeting:

• Council President Dale Bunting said Clark and Sons began on the street light installation over the weekend at the downtown intersection of Main and Chestnut streets. Poles will be placed in 20 to 30 days, he said. The poles will suspend the street light independent of any buildings, as it currently is, which will reduce the strain on those buildings;

• Council member Brad Hudson said Saturday evening's luau at the park pool was well attended. "It was a nice evening and I think everyone enjoyed it." Up next on the park's agenda is a movie night, a couple concerts and its Halloween haunted hayride;

• Council member Terry McCort said he was contacted regarding a sizeable pot hole on West Walnut Street. The Street and Alley Committee will be looking at the pot hole;

• Fire Chief Bob Smith said Bob Corbin will be resigning from the fire department; and

• Council approved building permits for: Shauna Benson at 159 Warren Ave. for porches; Marie Hanlon at 189 Robinson Ave. for a porch roof; John Jefferis at 129 Locust Drive for a new home construction; and Marjorie Jones at 320 N. Arch St. for vinyl siding and windows.

Barnesville Village Council will next meet on Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. in council chambers in the Municipal Building.