State funds could cover one-third of Mansfield’s $1.4M water well line upgrade

MANSFIELD — More than a mile of 90-year-old cast iron water well line could be replaced in the city next year, an expense that could be aided by a $500,000 state grant.

City Council on Tuesday approved city engineer Bob Bianchi’s request to seek the half million in Ohio Public Works Commission funds for a $1.4 million project that would move water from the Trisch Well and Wiles Well to the water treatment plant.

The aging iron pipe would be replaced with a new ductile iron pipe that is 6,100 feet long and 14 inches in diameter, he said,

He said the wells, in addition to the Clearfork Reservoir, are “an important part of the city’s water supply” and the project “will improve the reliability of the well water system for decades to come.”

If the grant is approved, the city would fund $900,000 toward the work from the water fund for work expected to begin in July and be complete by March 2028, Bianchi said.

“Both of these wells provide a significant amount of water for our treatment plant,” he said.

In 2025, in phase one of the overall project, the city used investment and interest income from a $35 million bond for improvements to Mansfield’s water treatment plant  to fund a $1.8 million water well line replacement project from the Brumenshenkel Well Field to the water treatment plant.

Work to install that line was complete two months ago.

“Phase one was extremely beneficial. After that was constructed, the water treatment plant realized a much larger flow from Brumenshenkel wells. What was happening was some of the water was being pumped out of the holes in the pipe into the ground. And then the remaining (water) was getting to the plant,” Bianchi told local lawmakers.

“We suspect that same that same concern to be rectified with this project for the phase two,” he said.

Bianchi told council the city normally receives one OPWC grant each year and he was confident this request would be approved.

“Then I would come back to City Council and ask for a vote to construct the well water line,” he said.

He said construction would have to begin after July 2027 due to the state fiscal year.

City Council also on Tuesday:

— heard a mid-year report from city Finance Director Kelly Converse, who said, “Everything looks fantastic right now.”

“At the end of July, our benchmark would be 58 percent of the year having passed. Income tax revenue for withholding, which is the largest driver of income tax receipts, that was at 60% of the budget, so that’s good overall,” Converse said.

“Individual receipts and business taxes are rebounding, so we’re at 63 percent of the budget overall at the end of July. So that’s good news.

“General fund revenue at the end of July is at 6 percent of the budget. That’s also great news. And the water fund is rebounding is at the benchmark at 58 percent at the end of July. Commercial accounts are still down compared to where they should be, but it is making a comeback, and sewer revenue is at 63 percent,” Converse said.

“Overall, city revenue is looking pretty good and all of the city departments are at expenditures below the benchmark,” she said.

— heard Safety Service Director Keith Porch report that the police department will swear in three new officers on Sept. 14. He said the officers are already certified and will be ready to immediately start the MPD’s field training program.

— approved transferring appropriations of $175,000 to help pay for new dump trucks for the water department and street department.

— approved appropriations totaling around $14,000 to purchase equipment and personal protective equipment for the fire department.

— approved spending $78,916 for a utility tractor with a 72-inch flair mower for the street department.