Minster council talks possible sites for water tower

MINSTER - A review of potential sites and styles for a new water tower was presented at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Councilors also gave first reading to the 2021 appropriations ordinance.

Village administrator Don Harrod presented an overview of a water tower preliminary report developed by consulting engineering firm CDM Smith to replace the aging water tower on Ohio Street.

Harrod said two recommended sites on village property are off West Seventh Street adjacent to the compost area and off West Fourth Street near the Nidec Minster pattern shop. Harrod noted the cost would be reduced if the tower were built on village property instead of requiring a land purchase.

The styles being considered are composite (concrete similar to the tower on State Route 29 near Celina), spheroid (the style of the tower at the south edge of the village) and steel (which would be shaped like the composite tower but made completely of steel).

Harrod said one option is for the village to build a 1.25-million gallon tower and Dannon Yogurt could build its own 750,000-gallon tank. In that scenario, the village could possibly reduce the capacity of its tower to 750,000 or 1 million gallons, he said.

He said village officials will meet with Dannon officials to discuss the project.

Harrod said the cost of a 1.25-million gallon composite or spheroid tower tank is estimated at $2.3 million-$2.5 million, while an all-steel tank would cost about $2.9 million.

"The easiest way would be to put a composite tank off Seventh Street," Harrod said, noting with a new 1.25-million gallon tower, the village would have above-ground water capacity of 2 million gallons.

The project wouldn't be completed in the near future.

"There are only three or four builders in the United States," Harrod said, noting it would be at least four years before the project could be completed.

No action was taken on the project.

Council gave first reading to 2021 appropriations totaling $28.2 million, which is $2.97 million more than last year's. The general fund spending has been set at $4.5 million, which is $773,361 less than in 2020.

Among the major projects considered for this year are the reconstruction of East Seventh Street and curb, gutter, paving and water line improvements on Garfield Street from Fifth Street to Seventh Street.

Harrod advised council members that crews will begin lowering by 30 inches a rise on North Hamilton Street in anticipation of future improvements. The project is designed to improve safety, according to Harrod. He said the section of the street between Fifth and Seventh streets will remain closed until spring when new asphalt can be applied.

Council members also,

• heard Harrod report the village's second solar field recently passed state inspection. The solar field has been online since December. The state inspection was the final step of the 4.5-megawatt solar project, which was built in the village industrial park by Eitri Foundry.

• gave second reading to an ordinance authorizing the purchase from Minster Concrete Coatings of a poured-in-place rubber surface under new playground equipment at Four Seasons Park. The local company's bid was $72,000. Other bids received were from David Williams and Associates, $79,535 and Midstates Recreation, $122,480.

• heard a presentation by Travis Fishbaugh, superintendent of the water and wastewater departments, on a new computerized system which allows for the monitoring and control of village utility operations.

• approved an agreement for engineering services with Choice One Engineering for the Dues Ditch drainage project on the northwest side of the village. Choice One will be paid $33,750 on the project, which will relocate the ditch to alleviate flooding in the area. The total cost of the project has been estimated at $412,000. Harrod said the village plans to use a $200,000 grant to cover part of the cost.

• heard Harrod report the north side of the village is being served by a new electrical substation. He said once Nidec Minster is switched to the new substation, the old substation will be dismantled.

• learned the failure of a switch owned by Dayton Power and Light Co. at the north substation caused a three-hour Jan. 24 power outage. DP&L crews were able to bypass the switch and restore power.