Chamber-of-Commerce April Luncheon

Thursday - April 29: The monthly Chamber-of-Commerce Luncheon was held at the Riverside Restaurant this past Thursday. Chamber President Randy Allmon presided. Invocation was offered by Paul Blevins. There was around 20 members in attendance.

Mrs. Diane Johnson, United Way of Southern Columbiana County Executive Director, was welcomed as the newest Chamber member.

Announcements made by Allmon was that Tracee Murphy will be assuming the duties of the Corresponding Secretary. Ms. Murphy is the Head Librarian at Wellsville's Carnegie Library. With Linda Surace's unfortunate broken arm the April newsletter will be tardy. Linda is recuperating nicely but decided to give up the secretary's job for the time being.

The Chamber's Board meetings will now be held the second Tuesday of the month in the Council Chambers at Wellsville Village Hall. Nothing was mentioned for the time of the meetings.

Center Pharmacy & CF Bank will co-host a Sunrise Chamber Breakfast sometime in June. More details will be announced at the May Luncheon.

Allmon announced they are thinking of returning to mailing the monthly newsletter instead of using e-mail. That move will have to be approved by the Chamber Board of Directors.

In the Mayor's Report, Joe Surace announced that the on-line internet radio type station, wkmxlive, is getting started back up. That is the station that brings the WHS Sports team broadcasting games live. Surace reported that they average 1,200 hits for the games. The station is owned and operated by Terry Brown.

Surace said they are planning regular programs such as a weekly Mayor's Corner with special guests each week. Anybody with ideas for other programs are invited to stop in and see Brown at the station located at 1245 Main St.

Surace also announced that LSW Sanitation has now opened a new office in town. That is the company that did the scoping of some of Wellsville's sewer lines recently. See our post dated 4/26/10 called "A Different View". LSW's office is located at 309 9th Street in the old McDonald School.

The new Riverside Roadhouse was named Business-of-the-Month. See our post below.

Looking like he's trying to remember what he planned to say next, Buckeye Water District Manager Al DeAngelis was this month's guest speaker. DeAngelis is pictured above and we had trouble getting a "professional" type picture.

DeAngelis gave a brief history on the water district and brought everyone up to date on the district's future plans. The district began in the 1980s when they took over the Wellsville water system. Currently they are in the process of completing Part B of the new Salineville waterline. That covers the final two miles needed to hook Salineville up to the EPA approved water district. DeAngelis remarked when that project is completed BWD will literally be supplying water from one side of the county to the other - from the Ohio River to Carroll County.

Upcoming for the district is the project to supply residents in the Frederick Heights area with a reliable source of water. Engineering for the project was given the green light at last month's BWD Board of Trustees meeting. After that they are looking at replacing Wellsville's main waterline from Hibbetts Mill on into the village. That project is "shelf ready".

In addition to Wellsville the district now serves customers in Lisbon, the Federal Prison in Elkton, the Career Center and soon will have Salineville on board. Approximately 100 new customers have signed on in the Frederick Heights area. More are expected once installation work begins. The Negley area trustees have expressed interest to be another future project. There's all that and the possibility to open all areas in between to new industry in Columbiana County. It's an exciting outlook and it all started in Wellsville.

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 20, at DaLonzos on Main St. Special guests of honor will be the WHS Class of 2010 Top Ten Students..

ole nib

Wellsville April Business-of-the Month

Thursday - April 29: The new Riverside Roadhouse on Wells Avenue was named Wellsville's April Business-of-the-Month. Accepting the plaque shown above is co-owner Laura Reed with Chamber President Randy Allmon (L) and Business of the Month Selection Committee Chairman Brian Wallace.

The Riverside Roadhouse reopened late last fall after being remodeled under new owners. The restaurant is owned and operated by Laura & Bill Reed and Rebecca & Eric Smith, all of Wellsville. Even the Head Chef is a Wellsville lady they lured back to town from Pittsburgh. Mrs. Chelsea Rawson was the seafood chef at Pittsburgh's Bistro 19 when she accepted the job at the Roadhouse.

Located at 565 Wells Avenue the Roadhouse is opened seven days a week for lunch and dinner. They offer a full menu of delicious entrees and even peanuts in the shell. You're allowed to toss the shells on the floor. It's better than home!

For reservations, banquet plans or receptions give them a call at 330-532-4421. You won't regret you did. We have tried their fish on the dish and the chicken pecan so far. We're hard pressed to say which one we would recommend. They are both worth a return trip for us.

ole nib

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer observance. It's a day set aside each year nationwide to take a few brief moments to thank the Good Lord for all we have and to offer a prayer for future good will and well being.

This year's theme is "For Such A Time As This" taken from the Book of Nathum 1:7. Wellsville's observance will take place from 12 noon to 12:30 at the Gazebo on the 4th Street Square Thursday. First Christian Pastor Troy Warner will be the Master-of-Ceremonies. The Tri-State Burial Group will act as honor guard and present the colors. Under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Gooch the Wellsville High School Music Department will provide the music. There will be a meaningful balloon launch to bring the ceremony to its conclusion.

Prayers will be offered by various Wellsville ministers and dignitaries. Mrs. Linda Persutti will represent Congressman Charlie Wilson. CC Commissioner Dan Bing will lead the prayer for our State Leaders. EL Municipal Court Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling will offer a prayer for all Columbiana County leaders, judges and the Sheriff's Dept. personnel. A student from the WHS Action Club will say a prayer for all parents, teachers and fellow students.

The observance for the National Day of Prayer is non-denominational and the public is invited. It is sponsored by the Wellsville Area Ministerial Assoc. In case of rain the observance will be held at Wellsville Village Hall.

Pictured above is Pastor Troy Warner & Mayor Joe Surace leading the Pledge of Allengiance at last year's observance.

ole nib

On The Calendar

May is starting to look like a busy month. Baseball, Softball & Track seasons will be wrapped up next week. There is a whole list of school events scheduled this month bringing another school year close to coming to an end. The month starts with May Day and concludes with Memorial Day. May is "Food for Fines" month at Wellsville's Carnegie Library. Here's what we got for this week:

Monday - May 3:

• WHS Baseball at Lowellville


• Jr. Tiger Sign up for 2010 football & cheerleading - Hammonds Park Upper Pavilion - 5 to 7 P.M.

Tuesday - May 4:

• Primary Election Day


• WHS Baseball vs Lowellville - Home - Hammonds Park - 5 P.M.


• WHS Track - Columbiana County Meet at East Palestine


• **Revitalization Committee - 6 P.M. at DaLonzos - Main St.**

Wednesday - May 5:

• Medicaton Assistance Program - 9:30 to noon - 1st United Methodist Church - Lisbon


• Middle School Tri-Meet at Mineral Ridge vs Mineral Ridge, Lisbon & South Range


• WHS Track - OVAC Meet at Shadyside


• Wellsville Council Meeting - 6 P.M. at Village Hall


• **WHS Alumni All-Stars - 6 P.M. at the Alumni Center - Third Street**

Thursday - May 6:

• WHS Awards Assembly - 10 A.M. at the High School


• Natonal Day of Prayer Service - Noon at 4th St. Gazebo or at Village Hall in case of rain


• **Wellsville-E Liverpool NAACP - 6:30 at Wellsville Library - Main St.**


• Wellsville Memorial Council - 7 P.M. at VFW on Main St.

Friday - May 7:

• McMillan & Life Concert - 7 P.M. at First Christian Church - Main St. - Public Invited

Saturday - May 8:

• Wellsville Memorial Council Flag Party - Springhill Cemetery - 11 A.M. - Placing flags on veteran's graves - Public Invited


• WHS Baseball Double Header at Carrolton


• WHS Track - OVAC Championships at Meadowbrook

Sunday - May 8:

• Worship at a church of your choice


• Mother's Day - Told you it would be here before you know it - Remember that special woman in your life

The Library is having their fine forgiveness month for fines owed for overdo books. Non-perishable food donations will wipe all the fines off the books. The food goes to Wellsville's Harvest House at New Life Hope Church.

The Jr. Tiger sign-up on Monday for the 2010 Football Season is for children that are at least 7 years old by August 1 and no older than 14 before November 7. Need a birth certificate and a recent picture of the child. Registration fee is $50 per child. Anyone 18 or older interested in being a cheerleading coach, asst. cheer coach, fund raising or spirit club are encouraged to sign up too.

Tuesday's Primary is an important one county wide with the 1% sales tax renewal being voted on. It accounts for 44% of the County's General Fund and is essential for funding many services provided by the County. Even out of state residents contribute to this with anything purchased in Columbiana County.

**The WHS Lip Sync All-Stars are meeting Wednesday getting ready for performances scheduled to begin the All-Class Reunion activities. Anyone interested in being part of the show is invited to attend. You can call Linda (304-387-1461) for more details.**

Rev. Troy Warner and members of the First Christian family invite everyone to join them for Friday evening's McMillan & Life Concert. It combines solid gospel music careers and ministry with years of family tradition. Visit www.mcmillanandlife.com for more information on this singing group.

Have a good week...

ole nib

Waterline Break 2

Night has fallen and still no water... First off, forgive my sarcasm and let me say that no one from Buckeye Water gave us that estimate for getting water back on. That was our "guesstimate" and we missed it by a country mile.

Since my last post we've been back twice. Around 6 o'clock we found out that the break was larger than what was first thought. Instead of around a 2' hole, it turned out to be much more. The end result was that approximately 13' of that 14" diameter line needed to be replaced. That hole was much bigger at that time than what we saw earlier. The first picture above is the line where the break occurred. The second is BWD employee Sam Pierceson starting to cut out the bad section.

Shortly before 8 P.M. we made our last stop. The third picture is the pipe that was removed. It has the yellow strap around it. You can see the ragged edge where it broke. The last picture is Greg Stanley beginning to assemble parts of the replacement pipe. The blue pipe shown next to the broken one is the replacement.

It will be a while yet before we get the water back on but it's coming. We're not making any more "guesstimates". Don't forget that a boil order is automatic whenever there is a break.

Kudos also to BWD. Most companies in this day & age would try to get the job done with minimum number of people when it's costing them time & a half rates. We counted six people working on this break. From back hoe operator to the guy priming the pumps they were all busy.

ole nib

Waterline Break

Saturday - May 1: A major waterline break forced Wellsville's water supply to be shut off. The break occurred in a 14" main supply line between 7th & 8th St. on Commerce. The break happened late morning today and by noon Buckeye Water was forced to shut down the whole system in the village.

BWD officials told us the break was causing the Rt. 45 storage tank to rapidly drain indicating it was a huge break. Further evidence of the break is how the street buckled around the leak on Commerce.

Around 3:30 this afternoon the break was located and repairs should only be a few hours away once the necessary equipment is located. Hopefully this is the only break needing repair. If it is water should be back on well before night fall. Keep your fingers crossed.

Potable drinking water has been made available at the new Pumping Station behind the car wash on Wells Avenue. The gates are open and BWD personnel have a hose coming out from under the big garage door. You must supply you own containers. Water is available to anyone from 3rd St. on up. It is only shut off from 3rd toward the downtown area. Please make sure to shut off the nozzle once you got the water you need.

Once the break is repaired water will be slowly turned back on to fill the lines. It may take awhile to get water back for folks living in the lower end of the village. Pictured above is what it look like when the break was discovered. The second picture shows how the water buckled the street that is shown with the edge of the hole BWD had to dig. The third picture is the section of the 14" line in front of 718Commerce where the break occurred. The hole in the line is estimated about 2' long with a ragged tear on the bottom side.

Finally, the Old Gray Mayor's Basketball game has been cancelled for tonight because of the break.

ole nib

Wellsville Council Finance Committee

Tuesday - April 27: The Finance Committee met Tuesday afternoon at Village Hall to discuss three levies. Present at the meeting was Committee Chairman Tony Cataldo, Members Joe Soldano & Randy Allmon. Also present was Mayor Joe Surace, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis and Council Member Sue Haugh.

There are three levies that will expire at the end of the year. Although they are scheduled to expire 12/31/10 they will still be collected through 2011. The difference in time between expiration and them no longer being collected gives Village officials time to get either renewal or replacement levies passed by the voters.

A renewal levy is one that is put on the ballot at the same rate that they are currently being collected. If the ballot was passed in 2005 as a new one, the rate is set at the 2005 real estate appraisal values. Those rates will not go up unless it is called a replacement levy. In that case the rate collected will be based on current real estate appraisal levels and the amount it cost the taxpayers will be slightly higher.

The three levies that were being looked at is a 1-mill General Fund operating levy for current expenses, a 1-mill Fire Dept. levy and a 6-mill Fire Dept. levy. The General Fund levy brings in approximately $25,000 per year and the two Fire levies combined brings in around $153,500 a year.

Fiscal Officer Davis stated that the earliest any of these levies can be put on the ballot is the November General Election. The Village then has four more chances to put them on in subsequent elections if they are voted down in November. After five tries if the levy is put before the voters once again it will automatically be a replacement levy at the higher rate. Village officials have until August 5, to pass a resolution or ordinance requesting a County Auditor's certificate authorizing the levies be put on the ballot.

General consensus of all three Committee members was to ask for renewal for the 1-mill General Fund levy. Most of the discussion at Tuesday's meeting centered on the two Fire levies. Cataldo advised that the exit audit for the recent State inspection is expected to take place in another couple of weeks. At that time more concise figures on what those levies bring in will be available.

The full time Fire Dept. currently consists of two people - the Chief and one fire fighter. Cataldo said there is no money to replace the third fireman as promised in March. Soldano remarked that for the third year now the Village doesn't have an extra $25,000 in the General Fund to transfer to the Fire Dept., as had been done in the past. Staffing for the WFD actually calls for four full time fire fighters.

A full time fire fighter starts out at $18,000 per year and with their benefit package that figure jumps to around $30,000. For two firemen that would be $60,000. Staffing shortages are being filled in with paid volunteers. The lower per hour rate, no insurance benefits and lower pension contributions is a cost savings to the Village keeping the Fire Dept. in the black. The Mayor remarked there is no over time in that department.

All three Committee members agreed to hold off for another meeting after the State exit audit, when there would be more exact figures to work with, before making a decision whether to recommend the levies be put on the ballot as renewals or replacements. Soldano remarked that it is tough to keep asking for more but felt the fire levies may have to be put on the ballot as replacements. McMahon suggested they put it before the public to see what they have to say. Soldano agreed saying times are tough. Lets see what the folks want. They will hold off making any recommendations to Council until it is decided what to do with all three levies.

The Village is still waiting to hear on two grants applied for the Fire Dept. Grant Source Professionals, the Village grant writer, advises they are 90% sure the $130,000 remodeling grant will be awarded. They advise they have had no word on the COPS type grant for additional personnel.

In other areas Cataldo asked about the possibility of charging tipping fees. The Fiscal Officer advised if it is considered it would have to apply to every company making deliveries in the Village from milk and bread distributors on down the line. It can not be applied to just one or two companies in town.

Cataldo advised he and Haugh would be meeting with the forester on Wednesday. The area around the old dump will be surveyed for trees 16" in diameter and larger to see if there is enough for harvesting. Wellsville got out of fiscal emergency a few years ago by selling lumber with trees harvested at the reservoir.

Estimates for all Values & Yields for 2009 Wellsville real estate is $27.3 million.


With the Primary Election being held next Tuesday the regular Council meeting is moved to Wedneday evening, May 5. The meeting will be held at Village Hall at 6 P.M.

ole nib