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NEWTON FALLS -- A 2-2 tie vote of village council to acquire land for a new water tower met with defeat at a recent meeting.
Voting to approve a resolution Wednesday for acquiring the properties at 110 and 116 Broad St. as the location for a water tower once the current one needs to be replaced were council members John Baryak and Gideon Fetterolf.
Voting against were council members Kevin Rufener and Julie Stimpert. Councilwoman Tesa Spletzer did not attend the meeting.
Because of a tie vote, the resolution failed. Three votes were needed for passage.
Baryak said a new water tower will be needed within the next 10 years, noting the current tower's life cycle is coming to an end. He said the property could be used for a new water tower and needs to be looked at now.
Rufener said he is concerned with the proposed location because if the tower falls, the nearby bridge and dam could be damaged or wiped out completely.
He said a study of the location needs to be done.
"There is a bridge that connects east and west sides and there's a dam there. We need to first have a risk analysis done if we want to erect a structure there," Rufener said.
"We are talking what-ifs. We need this property because we will be looking for a new water tower down the road," Baryak said.
Resident Chelsea Harper said it "sounds sketchy" that the property is needed now when officials said the water tower may not need to be constructed for 10 years.
"Why do we need that property now?" she said.
Baryak said the property might not be available in the future.
In other business, council voted 4-0 giving first reading to amending the electric rates starting in 2024.
Bill George, electric department superintendent, and Aaron Teders, a consultant with Sawvel and Associates of Findlay, spoke on the need for adjusting the rates and the debt service.
Priddy said the proposed increase is based on an average usage of 600 kilowatt hours and takes the current rate of $76.14 per month to $79.20 per month, with a bill increase of $3.06.
Priddy said the 2023 service charge is $7.50, debit service charge $4.25 and PCA rate of .00820 x 600 kilowatt hours is $4.92, totaling $16.50.
She said the service charge proposed for 2024 is $16.50, which includes debit service and PCA, meaning next year there will be a 17 cent decrease in billing with the increase for 2024 at $2.89 per month.
Officials said rate adjustments have been done every five years,. The new rates would be effective in February and reflected in March billing. Teders said capital improvement work needs to be done at the electric substation off Church Street, with some parts constructed in the 1970s.
In other business, council:
• Heard from resident Rick Kerlin that roof repair work was done on the community center after there were flooding issues. He said furniture inside the center was damaged by water;
• Heard from Priddy an inspection was done on the municipal building by the fire department with some work needing to be done to bring it up to fire safety codes. She said the kitchen at the building was also inspected and met requirements.
• Heard from Priddy with the defeat of two income tax issues in the general election to generate funds for police and roads, nothing has been decided yet on what the next move will be.
• Announced the annual Christmas tree lighting is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in the downtown business area.