MARTINS FERRY — The city of Martins Ferry expects to soon start selling treated water to Bridgeport following the recent contamination in two of the village’s wells.

During a regular City Council meeting Wednesday, Mayor John Davies said the city already has a connection line leading to Bridgeport’s line and can sell bulk water to the village. The water would then travel through Bridgeport’s line to its tanks.

A price for the bulk water still must be determined.

“We will fill their tanks and they will bill their customers,” Davies said.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency last month discovered that two of Bridgeport’s wells tested positive for a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, forcing their permanent shutdown. Three other wells tested negative for the chemical. Since the village is down to only three wells, it needs more water and Martins Ferry’s water plant has the capacity to produce it.

“About 500,000 gallons a day is what their average is,” Davies said. “I think it’s going to turn into a permanent deal.”

He noted Bridgeport received $25,000 from the Ohio EPA to install a temporary pump so it can pump the Martins Ferry water to its own tanks. A more permanent setup would likely cost Bridgeport millions of dollars, he added.

Davies said Martins Ferry already sells water to Tri-County Water in a similar bulk fashion.

In other business, council also approved transferring $15,000 from the General Fund to the Street Department fund. Doing so is expected to allow the city to purchase needed equipment and supplies to allow that department to continue functioning at least through the end of the pothole season. The department is currently in the red. Jeremy Shrodes, a city worker and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees local union representative, asked council to consider dividing income tax proceeds in a way that it would fund the street department.

Because of decreased funding streams coming into the city’s coffers, city officials have moved street department workers into other departments to avoid laying them off. While the workers have been cooperative, Shrodes is hopeful they can get back to the work they were hired to do.

Meanwhile, no vote was taken to purchase the computers and tablets required to allow council to hold their meetings via Zoom or other internet services. The city recently received federal COVID relief money to use for reimbursements related to the virus, such as cleaning supplies and equipment.

Councilwoman Suzanne Armstrong believes it would be a good idea to purchase the items for virtual meetings.

“We don’t know what direction this virus is going to go. We have an opportunity to get a head start,” she said. “I don’t want to wait until it’s too late and we’re playing catch-up.”

Council’s finance committee is expected to discuss it further at a future meeting. Councilman Jack Regis Sr. believes council should continue to meet in person, while following the health guidelines.

“We ought to make a motion to suspend the government because we’re afraid of what’s going to happen. … I support the streaming, but to buy all that equipment and do the zooming, I’ll never support that,” Regis said.