Buckeye Water District Grand Opening Celebration

This past Wednesday, August 12, 2009, the BWD held a grand opening celebration at the new Water Treatment Plant out on Route 45. In additional to BWD officials it was attended by quite a group of dignitaries. From Village officials, to Township Trustees, to County officers, State & Federal officials, some of the contractors, officers from lending institutions, former members of the District Board, and others it was an impressive list.

The new facilities for the water district went on line earlier this year. It was a culmination of 13 years of planning, bidding, agonizing and actual building. Several years ago when Wellsville got in trouble with the EPA for their aging water system the Buckeye Water District was formed. It started first on a county level with Engineer Bert Dawson and the County Commissioners. They authorized the formation of the district and began going after grants and loans to finance the building of the new facilities. When BWD first started they used the village's water treatment plant and reservoir. They began running water lines to other areas in the district and expanding. With the Wellsville EPA problems they knew from the beginning they were required to up-date and build new facilities for water customers. In the beginning the district was named the Southern Columbiana County Regional Water District. District Manager Al DeAngelis was the Master-of-Ceremonies.

One of the first members of the Board-of-Directors, Chuck Allison, recognized all that were instrumental in the formation of the district. He mentioned some of the first members of the BOD such as Pete Russell, Bob Grimm, Tom Haugh, Tom Knoll, Chuck Bibbee and Don Duke. He thanked County Engineer Bert Dawson and former Commissioner Don Lowe for the roles they played. He mentioned engineer Sid Porter that put all the numbers together. He told us that Steve Polen was the first District Manager.

County Commissioner Penny Traina said it took a lot of collaboration and co-operation to put this $33.5 million project together. Bert Dawson said with the district supplying water, places like Beaver Local, Beaver Creek State Park, Echo Dell Trailer Court, Guildford Lake, the Elkton prison and other western parts of the county now have a clean source of potable water. The creation of the water district plays a huge role in the progress of our county. He noted that Salineville will soon be added to the list.

Dawson said there are some developments he would like to see that are now possible with the district. There's the potential to develop over 100 acres at the Route 7 & 11 intersection as just one example. He has dreams of getting the county's section of Route 30 turned into a four lane highway connecting to Routes 7 & 11. He dreams of what a tremendous asset Baard Industries will be to our future. He dreams of opportunities of creating jobs in hopes that some day his grandchildren and others can remain and work in the area. With a reliable water & sewage system in place it's not too far fetched. As Bert said, with a little help from our friends, Congressman Charlie Wilson and others, anything is possible.

Following the opening ceremonies a formal ribbon cutting was conducted. Shown above, from the left, are Board members Tim O'Hara & Jack Call, County Commissioner Dan Bing, Board Secretary/Treasurer Chuck Bibbee, Commissioners Jim Hoppel & Penny Traina, Board member Gene McGaffick, County Engineer Bert Dawson, Board V.P. Bob Wines, Board President Mike Ryan, Board attorney Fred Emmerling and District Manager Al DeAngelis. Although he was present Board member Cal Carney didn't get into the pictures.

After the ribbon cutting a light lunch was served and tours were conducted of the Water Treatment Plant. Tours were also available for the public.

Back in mid-May I finished up a series of articles on the new facilities if you would like to see pictures of it. Just dig into the blog archives. It's capable of pumping up to 5 million gallons of treated water per day and was built to expand if demand ever grows beyond that.

Thanks to the good people of the BWD for allowing me to tag along.

ole nib