BELMONT — Village Council recently heard updates on a number of water system issues and voted to pursue the purchase of a new tractor and to get chip and seal work done on some village streets and alleys.

During a meeting held Sept. 4, Board of Public Affairs President Ken Davis updated council on a number of water system projects.

In a response to a question from Mayor Ron Woods, Davis said that permanent repairs to a waterline that ruptured last month would be done by contractor Roger Morris with assistance from the village crew and that they were hoping to complete the job in a single day.

Davis said the line is currently exposed to the elements and that once he learned when they would be taking on that project he would notify those who would be affected so they could prepare.

Davis also informed council that the village had purchased 72% of the water used in the village last month from Belmont County due to the ongoing drought conditions, whereas village wells have typically produced well over half of the village’s water on a monthly basis.

Davis also said Midco would be in town soon to service the village’s water tank.

Davis added that he had been informed by village Fiscal Officer Ricky Burkhead, who was absent from the monthly meeting, that due to increased operating expenses and increased rates from the county that an increase in water rates would be necessary next year.

Davis and Woods discussed with council the possibility of purchasing a new multi-use tractor for the village with Woods saying that there are some good deals available right now. Davis showed a quote for a new John Deere being sold with a number of implements for $25,000.

After some discussion, council voted to pursue the matter and have Burkhead and Davis get some additional quotes on some other brands.

Davis also said he had received quotes on getting chip and seal work done on South Street, First Alley, Water Street, Sycamore Street and a portion of the alley by the water tank.

Davis said that both contractors who had given him the quotes had advised against chipping and sealing the hill on Thompson Road that the village had done major repairs on last year. Instead they would only treat the top portion where village storm water frequently washes away the gravel.

Davis said the total for the oil based treatment for the roads was just over $16,000 and that they would have to purchase about $2,500 worth of stone as well to complete the work.

He went on to say that the village had $45,000 in license fee funds at the county and that they would have to see what parts of the project met the criteria to request that money, but that Burkhead had said they could afford to get the work done regardless.

Council approved getting the chip and seal work done contingent upon Burkhead confirming the availability of the funds.

Davis also informed council that they would be meeting with Quicksall Engineering out of New Philadelphia on Sept. 11 about their grant writing services, saying the village needs to get work done on its storm sewer system to alleviate the amount of storm water inundating the sanitary sewer system, but that grants for other projects could be available.

Davis said that the company doing the asbestos abatement at the old Belmont school building was working on the third floor and that the contractor doing the actual demolition had informed him they were looking to get started this week.

After Davis spoke of another water break that he did not know about until he saw a post on social media, Councilwoman Sara Scott said she would work on updating the village’s phone extension numbers and posting them on their Facebook page and they also discussed establishing other means for people to report issues.

Scott also presented a flyer she had prepared to help inform residents about the 3.5-mill village operations levy that will be on this November’s ballot as the village seeks additional funding for the police department and cemetery maintenance.

Fire Department Lt. Faye Hall updated council concerning the village’s new fire station, saying that they were waiting to approve final plans from the architect and that they had been told that they had met all of their obligations to receive the grant funding for the project.

Hall said they had been “super busy” answering emergency calls and performing transports.

Woods expressed his appreciation to Goshen Township Trustee J.R. Whiteley for getting the chip and seal work done on Township Road 206, which becomes John Street once it enters the village and is commonly known as “the brick road.”

Council also discussed the need to set a date for the village’s trick or treat and other Halloween festivities before deciding they would check with neighboring communities and have a quick special events meeting at a time when Councilwoman Lorie Grob, who usually takes the lead on such matters but was absent from the meeting, could be there.

Belmont Village Council meets at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the Stanley Sobel Village Offices on Brown Street.