BARNESVILLE — Village officials recently learned that water is being pumped through the Slope Creek Waterline.

Village Administrator Roger Deal announced that the new pipeline constructed last spring and summer was being flushed as a meeting held Jan. 16 was taking place.

“Everything is working except for the microcom telemetry system. The flow meter is working at the pumphouse, but it is not communicating with the plant. That is something that will be done,” Deal said.

The long-awaited, $5.58 million project replaced a 60-year-old, 12-inch concrete and asbestos pipe with a 16-inch plastic line that is located along a new route that will allow easier access for maintenance and repairs. The project was funded largely through grants from the Appalachian Regional Commision, the Ohio Public Works Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers and an additional $2.257 million from the state of Ohio through House Bill 168 in 2021.

Councilman Brian Yarnall asked about possibly making the bulk water machine located by the municipal parking lot both coin and credit card operable. Deal responded that he had looked into that at one point in time and would have to find the figures.

When the possibility of allowing broader access to the bulk water machine located on Ohio 800 was brought up as well, Deal said a whole new set-up would be required there, since that machine was installed to service large tankers and would not accommodate regular vehicles.

Mayor Jake Hershberger asked that the Water Committee investigate the matter further to see what was possible and how much it would cost.

Meanwhile, Hershberger announced that a survey had been conducted along Railroad Street and confirmed the belief that a horse shelter built by a resident had encroached on village property. He said that he and Police Chief Rocky Sirianni had met with the resident, who had verbally agreed to rectify the situation within two weeks.

Hershberger thanked new Councilwoman Robyn Misner for completing Sunshine Law training and for attending a recent Memorial Park Board meeting on behalf of the village.

Misner said the park board consists of Nick Bauman, Leslie Schultz, Michele McGlaughlin, Ronna Allen and John Duch, and that they had reflected on the success of the inaugural Christmas in the Park event and the interest in holding it again next year.

Councilman Steve Hill announced that he had attended a meeting of the Belmont County Land Reutilization Corp. and that there are six Barnesville properties the land bank will help the village to abate this year. He said there originally had been eight sites, but circumstances had changed with two of the properties.

Hill also spoke against plans to place practice ballfields on a piece of property off of Pultney Avenue that was donated to the village last year, citing the difficulty of accessing the site as the reason.

Councilman Terry McCort’s previously discussed proposal that council set up a program to make loans available for village businesses to make improvements was discussed before it was decided that the Finance Committee should work on the details of how the program would be implemented before deciding whether to proceed.

In other business, council approved paying a $1,000 retainer to Kristina Estle of Lakeside Grants to handle grant writing as the village attempts to fund a roof replacement and other repairs on the historic Barnesville B&O Depot.

Council also approved paying bills in the amount of $94,775.70 and approved building permits for Todd Wells to demolish houses at 222 N. Broadway St. and 501 S. Lincoln Avenue.