BELLAIRE — The village is moving closer to completion of an improvement project at the Bellaire Water Treatment Plant.

During a special meeting Monday morning, Bellaire Village Council met to sign a certificate of substantial completion for the improvement project for the work of the contractor S.E.T. Inc. — the subcontractor hired by CTI Engineers Inc. to complete the work at the plant.

The project has been in the works for the past five years and will aid in getting the village’s second water well up and running with a series of installations and upgrades to ensure the water is safe for consumption. It includes the installation of two air strippers — a technology that removes volatile organic compounds from pumped groundwater — water valves and service lines. The village has been unable to use the well since it was discovered there were contaminants in it, rendering it unusable without the air strippers.

Prior to signing the contract, Councilman Mike Doyle said there were a couple errors in the document. He said the date of council’s walk-through inspection of the plant was listed as being conducted on Feb. 23 when it was actually completed on Feb. 16. Also, the project manager signed the contract on Feb. 23 and requested council date it for the same time period as well.

“I personally don’t want to do that. If we vote on it today, it should be today,” he said.

Though the majority of the work is complete on the contractor’s side, there are still a few items remaining known as a punch list or minor items. He said the list was not included in the contract but covers items such as grass seeding, which will be done once the weather improves.

Doyle said there is a warranty notice attached as well that includes some of the issues they noticed on the walk-through.

“There was a leak, and we noted that, and there was a bent valve so those things are all covered under warranties,” he said.

Doyle said there will be a final sign off with CIT Engineers, the company hired by the village, once the project is fully complete.

Councilman Jerry Fisher noted that the well is ready to go, as soon as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency gives the village the green light.

Councilwoman Janet Richardson inquired as to how often the air strippers would run each day, while others inquired about the possible noise they will make. Councilwoman Elizabeth Dugmore said she lives near the plant and has not heard any loud sounds as of yet.

Doyle said these questions must be answered by Water Superintendent Gary Zavatsky.

Doyle said he did not want to hold off on signing the agreement as from what he understood, the company had been done with the work it was hired to perform for two months.

After some more discussion, Doyle made a motion to sign the certificate of substantial completion with S.E.T. with an addendum regarding the dates. It was unanimously approved.

The next step will be to set a final walk-through with the engineering company, CTI Engineers. A certificate of completion will then be signed once that is conducted.

The village secured $4.5 million in funds to complete the project — half grant and half low-interest loan — through the Ohio EPA.

Once the new well is up and running with the newly installed equipment, it will not only prevent contaminants from appearing in treated water, but will allow the village to expand its water production.

Council will not meet on its usual meeting date on Thursday as several members will be unavailable to attend.

Council will next meet at 6 p.m. March 16 at the municipal building.