NEW VIENNA, OHIO — The New Vienna Village Council met Monday, Aug. 19 to discuss issues within the village and to address issues relating to council and village administration. Among the problems near the top of the list were issues the village had recently with new pavement laid along state routes 73 and 28.
The work was contracted through the state to be done by Fillmore Construction, based out of Leesburg, Ohio. According to comments made during the meeting and afterward, water meter lids within the village were initially destroyed upon the initial scraping of the road and were then paved over after new lids, bought by the village, were placed over the initially damaged caps. A village maintenance worker then had to chisel out meter lids so service could be provided for new residents of the village.
“Lids to water meters and water line shut-offs were destroyed during the initial scraping of the old surface,” said Mayor Judy Havens during discussion regarding the subject after the council meeting.
It was asserted that most of the issues were along State Route 28, as it winds through the middle of town and through residential neighborhoods to the east and west of town, rather than along State Route 73.
According to Havens, six-meter lids were replaced in one day — each replaced by the city. It’s unclear at this time if New Vienna would be refunded for the cost of replacing said water meter and line caps, or if the company or state would replace them.
“The state inspector was made aware of this and said he would talk to the foreman,” said Havens. “At this time, the issue has not been addressed by the construction company.”
The News Journal attempted to contact Fillmore Construction for comment, but at this time the company has yet to respond.
Among other issues addressed, a local resident complained of water pressure issues. When tested, the water pressure fell in between the recommended 40-80 psi for residential dwellings. Water pressures were then checked around town, and though many were in the high 40s and high 50s, none were actually lower than the recommended psi for residential or commercial dwellings.
