By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green officials plan to spend $220,000 to buy some acreage for another water treatment reservoir. A few years ago, the city purchased 76 acres on Hull Prairie Road with the thought of putting another reservoir there in the future.
The one problem was a house that sat on four acres in the center of the acreage at 23134 Hull Prairie Road.
But the owner of the house, Jay Largent, has now asked if the city is interested in purchasing his house and the four acres for the appraised price of $220,000. The Board of Public Utilities voted Monday evening to do so.
“This could be advantageous for us,” Director of Public Utilities Brian O’Connell said, explaining that 80 acres is much more desirable than 76 acres with a house in the middle. “It does give us a more viable site for a reservoir.”
A larger reservoir would provide additional raw water storage as well as better quality raw water to the plant.
Until the new reservoir is needed and the house is demolished, the city may rent it out to make some income. Or the city may trade the land for other acreage closer to the water treatment plant that is four miles away from the Hull Prairie acreage.
According to O’Connell, there’s enough money for the land acquisition in the 2017 Water & Sewer Capital Improvement Fund.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the board of public utilities voted to enter an agreement with the Wood County Port Authority to help extend services to a new portion of the Woodbridge Business Park. The expansion to the east needs utilities, storm sewers and roads. It is estimated the state will pay for 75 percent of the utility extensions, leaving about $350,000 for the city to cover.
Bowling Green will have to pay for the project, but the Wood County Port Authority may be able to secure state funding and refund the city.
The Woodbridge Business Park expansion to the east will allow for planned warehousing and logistics services development. It is anticipated that several existing industries in the business park will use the new development and convert existing warehouse space in their own facilities into manufacturing space.
According to O’Connell, the expansion will result in increased employment in the business park, which will increase income tax revenue for the city.
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
- The board adopted an electric rate schedule that is expected to create a more fair way to allocate costs in the future.
- The board learned the city’s microfiltration plan for the water plant was accepted by the EPA for zero percent interest funding, which could save the city as much as $900,000 over the life of the loan, O’Connell said.
- The board heard the wastewater treatment plant had its first combined sewer overflow of the year during the recent heavy rains.
- Heard from Mayor Dick Edwards about the ribbon cutting for the public at the new solar field on city land off Newton Road. “You should feel very, very proud of this accomplishment,” the mayor said. “It sets us apart from the rest of Ohio.”
- The board agreed to allow a tap into the city sanitary sewer service for a residence at 10722 E. Gypsy Lane Road. The Wood County Health District found that the septic system is failing at the residence. The homeowner has agreed to file for annexation, as required.
