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FLUSHING -- Water-related issues topped the agenda during a recent meeting of Flushing Village Council.
During his second monthly report since taking over as Flushing's village administrator, Kris Chini informed council in November that he and village crews had been working to eliminate leaks throughout the village water delivery system.
"We've found multiple leaks, and we have repaired quite a few of them," Chini said.
He explained that there were a lot of places in the village where there used to be mobile homes or other residences and said there could be small leaks there in addition to those in the main lines. He said those smaller leaks are particularly difficult to locate.
Mayor Tom Bober asked Councilman Chad Sutton, who also serves as the village's Water Operator of Record, for an update. Sutton replied that water loss is "right around 20%," which he said was "good for a small village."
Bober asked why the monthly bill from Belmont County Water was up around $23,500, whereas it used to be closer to $13,000.
"That sounds like a heck of an increase for only having 20% loss," Bober said.
Sutton suggested village leaders contact the billing department but noted that there had been rate increases and that the village is facing yet another rate increase in January.
Sutton and Chini also said they had taken care of an issue with some water samples that previous village administrator Bryan Clark had failed to submit in September.
Chini also informed council that the lift station pump and check valve work that had been discussed during the October meeting had been completed and that the bottom road into Schuler Park had been closed for the winter season as of Nov. 1.
Councilwoman Sandy Twarog said a property owner across from Flushing Alliance Church had spoken to her and warned of legal action should their basement flood as a result of village drainage issues.
Chini said crews were going to cut the asphalt in that area and put in new pipe to alleviate that concern, but they were still waiting to get their backhoe back from being repaired. He said there is another culvert on Circle Drive they were going to do the same day as the one Twarog brought up.
When asked about promised repairs to one of the alleys in between Wood and Pearl streets, Chini said he and village crews were doing street and alley work by area and that they would be working on that alley within a week or so.
He explained that due to the weather cooling off, asphalt is difficult to work with and that he did not want to use cold patch on the alley being discussed due to the depth of the repair needed.
Council also passed a resolution certifying village levy amounts, with Fiscal Officer Jeryl McGaffick noting that all of the various levies are expected to bring in around $150,000 and that $100,000 of that amount was for the Flushing Fire Department and EMS.
Bober expressed his appreciation to the residents of Flushing for passing the levies during the Nov. 7 election.