By JAN H. KENNEDY
FPS correspondent
March 31, 2009
Getting a medical facility to open in the village of Minerva is a painful process.
Larry Kosiba, executive director of the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce, will attest to that. After getting turned down by Aultman Hospital in Canton and Alliance Community Hospital over the summer, he finally found open minds at Mercy Medical Center. He asked council for its blessing at its March 24 meeting.
Council’s support does not include monetary assistance, Kosiba said.
Kosiba plans to apply for $3.8 million from the federal Stimulus Bill to help pay for the facility. He estimates land procurement at $400,000, architectural services at $400,000, building construction at $1 million and equipment purchases at $2 million.
“When you combine the populations of Minerva, Malvern and East Rochester, you have as many or more people as Carrollton or Louisville, which have facilities,” Kosiba said. “The need is definitely there.”
Kosiba said getting funding from the stimulus package is a long shot, but, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Water line flushing
Beware of potentially cloudy water Saturday. Village workers will be flushing the water lines and checking hydrants for leaks or other repairs, said Steve Jackson, service director. Jackson wants to flush the lines four times a year instead of the current three.
“I’m looking at April, June, August and October,” he said. “I think that will help keep the water fresh in the lines.”
In other business, council:
-SELECTED David Catlett to replace the roof on Village Hall at a price not to exceed $13,800. Catlett will remove all shingles, reshingle, replace drip edge and haul away all old and unused materials. The village’s insurance policy will cover about $10,000 of the cost.
-DISCUSSED the need to replace four flat grates in the village pool with Jackson. He said the new grates have a slight elevation to them. The grates accept water from the pool that is pumped through a filter and returned to the pool. The suction from the pump through a flat grate can create a vacuum when a person’s body completely covers it, pinning them to the bottom of the pool and preventing them from escaping. The arched grate will keep a body from completely covering all the holes so a vacuum is not created. The new grates will cost $100 each.
-ANNOUNCED the village-wide garage sale will be May 7, 8 and 9.
-SET the annual Spring Clean-Up for May 16.
-SCHEDUKED the next council meeting for April 14 at 7:30 p.m. |
