BOVE: Alan Frygier, an engineer with Verdantas Engineering based in Tampa, Florida, presents some of the engineering challenges with running a waterline down Turner Road to Palmyra Road. He gave a presentation Monday at the Canfield Library for the public and members of the ABC Water and Stormwater District.

CANFIELD — During a special public meeting at the Canfield Library on Monday, members of the ABC Water and Stormwater District asked residents to support the proposed 12-inch South Turner Road waterline.

ABC District member and Canfield Township Administrator Keith Rogers gave a brief update on where the project stands.

“We have $1.325 million so far,” Rogers said. “We have requested more Congressional Direct Spending for Phase II. It went through 13 subcommittees and is sitting on a desk in Washington, D.C.”

He said the district will continue to ask for more funding for the current phase and future phases.

Alan Frygier, an engineer with Verdantas Engineering based in Tampa, Florida, said it all started with the options of bringing a well supply or buying bulk water from Youngstown. After all options were looked at, it was determined the best plan was to bring Youngstown water down South Turner Road toward Palmyra Road. The new line would be a 12-inch main with more than 100 pounds per square inch (psi).

“We are going to run at 100 psi for firefighting,” Frygier said. “Any home tying into the line should add a pressure reducer to protect their home’s piping.”

He said standard home pressure is around 60 to 80 psi.

Along the Turner Road route are 156 homes with well water.

Some residents at the meeting wondered what it would cost them to get water. Rogers said the tap-in fee is $3,300 that would be charged by the Youngstown Water Department. That would be added to the cost of the waterline from the road to the house, and about $1,000 for a pressure reducer.

Rogers also explained that big city water departments in Ohio can use their water to annex more land into the city. Fellow ABC board member and Boardman Township Administrator Jason Loree agreed with Rogers.

“Cities can annex and they can use water to do it,” he said. “The ABC District was formed to stop that kind of annexation.”

According to Rogers, the ABC District had worked out a 40-year agreement with Youngstown to provide the water in bulk to the district for Turner Road and to maintain the lines, but the lines have to be in place first.

“We are going to go as far down Turner as our funding will take us,” Rogers said.

Many in attendance wanted to know about the second phase and which way the line would go at Palmyra Road. Residents from Calico Lane and Caymen Bluff live in a neighborhood off Palmyra Road to the west of Turner. To the east of Turner, on Palmyra, is a proposed Universal Development project that would include 44 four-plexes.

That is a lot of residents needing water, but the meeting was called for the residents along Turner and Palmyra who want it. ABC District attorney Sean McCarter said the ABC District can use help to try for further grants and government funds.

“I brought nonbinding agreements tonight,” he said. “These agreements show you are interested in having city water. By signing and submitting them, you can help us show bigger numbers when we ask for more funding. These agreements don’t mean you will have to tie in, they are non-binding.”

At the end of the meeting, the 50 forms McCarter brought were taken by residents and many were filled out and returned.

Turner Road resident Dave Knarr, who also sits on the Cardinal Joint Fire District board, said he sees a big benefit for the fire department, noting the increased availability of water and hydrants will help lower homeowners’ insurance.

Another couple glad to see progress being made said they may have to wait a while longer for another phase. Bill and Amy Dorcas live across from the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center. The school was annexed into the city and city waterlines were run down Palmyra to the school. Homes on the east side of Palmyra are in the city while homes on the west side of the road, like the Dorcas’ property, are still in the township.

“It seems crazy to be within 75 feet of a waterline and we can’t connect,” Bill said. “We have a shallow well and just put a lot of money into it. We would love to have the waterline.”

The Dorcas may have to wait until Phase II to get the line to which they will connect.

No start time was mentioned, and the hope is to attract more funding to take the Phase I line as far as possible once it does start.