ABERDEEN - The quest for a village water system continued at the village council meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, as Aberdeen Village Administrator Jim Olsen reported the sample drilling for a water plant well had finally been completed. The project was completed by Jones and Henry Engineers after several weeks of delays due to weather, debate, and other outstanding issues.
Olsen said the engineers completed three drillings at one of the possible properties and reported that while the site has the potential to yield a water supply, it may be limited, according to the hydrogeologist with Jones and Henry Engineers. Each sample drilling cost $10,000.
"His experience in similar environments indicated it would be possible to obtain a production of 350 gallons per minutes with only one well," Olsen said. "However, more than likely it would take two or more wells to meet the village demand."
In order to be certain the well will yield that amount, Olsen said the next step would be to construct a sample well in the location. The sample well can later be converted into a full scale well for the project, and would allow Jones and Henry Engineers to also conduct an aquifer test to determine total well yield. However, Olsen said that building a sample well will cost the village a lot more than the sample drillings.
"The next step we would do would be to build the test well, and that's where we start getting into big dollars," Olsen said. "The number I heard was around $80,000."
Olsen said the village would need at least two wells, and currently has $140,000 set aside for the wells in the project. The village would have to schedule sample drillings for a second property as well.
Aberdeen resident Rodney Dale said the village seems to be back to square one with the project, as the deadline for the village to submit a plan to the State of Ohio is Sept 1. Dale said there was no way the village would be able to get the project up and running before the deadline. Dale said that council should be looking for ways to get the project done as soon as possible.
"As I have said before, there's no way Aberdeen can afford this plant, but if it's possible, lets get on the money situation and see if we can get some money," Dale said. "This is going to drag again.
"I would like for something to be done about our water situation instead of waiting a couple more years."
In other business:
• There is still time to apply for the open council seat for the village of Aberdeen. The seat was vacated by council member J.R. Lawrence at the council meeting on July 20. The seat will have to be filled at the next village council meeting on Aug. 17.
• RULH art teacher James Gilkerson reported that work on the Aberdeen mural is nearing completion, and should be done at the end of August. Any current RULH students who wish to participate in painting the mural can stop by the mural from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Tuesday.
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