Speedway Water Loop Project moves forward

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ENON — Plans are underway in the Village of Enon to move forward with the Speedway Water Loop Project with the assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grant and loan program.

“This is a very important project for the village, and we have been trying for several years to get OPWC funding,” Mayor Tim Howard said. “We succeeded this year, thanks to the persistent efforts of our staff.”

The village received the good news about the OPWC Capital Improvement Program funding in early October, and village officials anticipate receiving an official letter of approval from the OPWC sometime in February or March 2016. Engineering and design could begin as early as the spring months, with construction to follow in late 2016 or the spring of 2017.

“The village has already received letters of support from Speedway LLC, Seepex Inc. and Wenco Construction Company who own undeveloped land in the service area,” Howard said.

The OPWC will provide 74 percent of the funding towards the $738,474 project which will consist of a $273,235 grant and a $273,235 interest-free loan. Although he did not have all of the information available, Howard said the loan would likely be repaid over a thirty-year period. The village will contribute the remaining 26 percent in needed funding from local revenues, which will amount to $192,004 in out-of-pocket costs.

According to Howard, the project includes extending a new water line from the eastern terminus near 500 Speedway Drive. and then extending the water line southward through a wooded area to a point near 5852 Dayton-Springfield Road. After the water main, which dead ends on Winding Drive, is extended to the road, the water line would proceed west-southwest on the north side of Dayton-Springfield Road and cross over to the south side of the road near the Enon corporation limits. The water line would then be connected to the existing Main Street water line that dead ends near Koons Drive.

“This will loop that entire section of the village’s water distribution system to the downtown area,” Howard said. “New fire hydrants will be installed approximately every 500 feet as part of the project as well.”

Howard noted that eliminating dead ends in a water distribution system would substantially increase water flow for firefighters, eliminate air pockets, which may cause water hammer and improve safety to all businesses and residents in those adjacent areas. The looped water line would also decrease the chance of backflow occurrences and brown water during times of high-water demand.

“This is a project I had asked our staff to keep working on because of its importance to safety in that area,” Howard said. “The Enon Village Council and I are very pleased the village finally received funding. Again, good job by our village staff for getting the project approved.”

By Linda Collins

For the Herald

Linda Collins is a freelance reporter for Greene County News.

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