Prepared Comments Made To
NORTH CANTON CITY COUNCIL
November 8, 2004
Last week, Mayor Tom Rice took issue with proposed council legislation to fund the engineering of new water lines for Bonnett Street. Mr. Rice, I do not understand why you would oppose the much needed upgrade of sub-standard water lines for residents in the City of North Canton.
Yes, Councilperson Kiesling does live on Bonnett Street but so do many other families.
Presently, Bonnett Street is served by 6-inch water lines that were installed in 1944. Why would you oppose the replacement of residential water lines that are sixty years old?
Mr. Rice, last week you stated your concern that old deteriorated water lines, specifically 4-inch water lines, do not allow for adequate fire protection. You made reference to a water distribution analysis that was recently completed for the city.
This is the Water Distribution Analysis completed for North Canton in May, 2003, by Finkbeiner, Pettis & Stout, Inc.
I would like to cite excerpts from this study that begins on page Vll-2 and continues into page Vll-3:
“Poor fire protection exists throughout the city, specifically in the older areas with smaller diameter mains. Tuberculation effectively decreases the working diameter of these mains over time, thus further reducing the fire flow capacities in these mains. As stated previously, 4-inch diameter and smaller mains are not designed for fire protection. Also, 6-inch diameter mains with long unreinforced lengths are marginal at providing adequate protection. Aging of these 6-inch diameter mains (tuberculation over time) can easily reduce the effective diameter to 4-inch or less, further reducing their fire flow capacities.”
Continuing, the report states,
“Several 6-inch diameter mains have also been identified as having poor fire protection. These mains are listed in Table 8 as well.” I would like to point out to you Mr. Rice that Bonnett Street is listed in this table. Table 8 is titled Recommended Water System Improvements.
Mr. Rice, last week you also stated your concern that old deteriorated water lines, specifically 4-inch water lines, adversely impact the overall efficiency of the water distribution system. Again, I would like to cite excerpts from the same water distribution study. This appears on page V-4 under the heading System Headloss:
“Headloss within the system will restrict the amount of flow that a water main can carry. Headloss gradient greater than three or four feet per 1,000 feet of pipe is considered high and should be addressed by the city. During extreme conditions such as fire flows, these mains greatly reduce the amount of flow available in the area and results in lower pressures. Reasons for high headloss gradients include age, pipe material and diameter, lack of reinforcement, and buildup of solids (tuberculation) on the inside of the water main due to water instability. Replacing 4-inch and 6-inch diameter water mains with 8-inch diameter mains would allow a systematic approach to increasing fire flows to a more acceptable level.”
Clearly, the aged 6-inch water line on Bonnett Street does not provide adequate fire protection to the residents living on Bonnett Street and it adversely impacts the North Canton Water Distribution System. Mr. Rice, this situation should be of great concern to you, but given your objections last week, it appears you are not concerned.
Bonnett Street residents also live with inferior water day after day for washing, bathing and drinking. That is, if they choose to drink it.
Mr. Rice, your pretense in raising objections to the engineering of Bonnett Street for new water lines is quite transparent. It is simply an attempt to get back at Councilperson Keisling, pure and simple.
I might also add Mayor Rice that you had no problem signing legislation last year
(114-03) for engineering Bel Air even though Bel Air did not appear in the table of recommended water system improvements done by Finkbeiner, Pettis & Stout, Inc.
Bel Air also received new sanitary and storm sewer, curb and gutter, and new street pavement. As we all know, Bel Air is in Ward One and its Ward Councilperson is Mr. Doug Foltz. Mayor Rice, do certain council members receive favor favorable treatment from you if they remain in your good graces? It appears that is the case!
I would like to propose that the City of North Canton place a moratorium on any further street improvements and focus on the replacement of all inferior water lines. The policy of totaling rebuilding sanitary and storm sewer, curb and gutter and pavement of new streets will force many residents to continue to endure inferior quality water as well as forego adequate fire protection for years to come.
Is this any way to promote the City of North Canton? Do you think the residents that have endured these inferior water systems make good ambassadors for the city? I do not think so and you know they don’t as well.
I continue to hear the argument that we do not want to tear up the city streets twice. No one on this council or from the administration gave it a second thought when you rushed to tear up streets to put in the 24-inch water main to connect East Maple Street Well Field to the Water Treatment Plant.
That water line zig zags all through the city. When completed and repaved, except for the different color paving, no one gives it a thought that the street was dug up for a water line. If it was not a problem to put in the 24-inch water main, why is it a problem to put in water lines on residential streets that are in desperate need of new water lines?
Why are residents destined to live like second-class citizens because their council and their mayor would rather pave new streets than provide clean drinking water and adequate fire protection?
But improvements to the city’s water infrastructure cannot happen if rates are not set fairly and properly. Did you ever think that if this council had set the proper water rates last year and again earlier this year that many of these streets would not still be waiting for funding for needed funding for water lines?
And Mayor Rice, where is your leadership? Months have gone by without a peep from you and now that council has ended their scrutiny of you, the best you can offer is your foul language and vengeance on council members of your choosing.
Chuck Osborne
Resident
City of North Canton
