Lewisburg prepares for repairs to water tower and Twin Creek

0

LEWISBURG — Repairs and updates are in the works for the village of Lewisburg, according to Village Administrator Jeff Sewert, including water tower repair, shoring up the banks of Twin Creek, and adding new amenities to the village’s popular water spray park.

Bids are out for the water tower repair contract, Sewert said, “and I think we had five as of last week. We’ll do some painting inside, some repair, some piping work. It’s 20 years old, and it’s time to do some upkeep maintenance. We like to be proactive, not reactive on these things.”

Sewert said the repairs will be finished by Nov. 1, and he does not foresee any disruptions to water service.

“We’re going to do the best we can to not affect service,” he said. “It’s always a challenge when you take a water tower down, but we’ve got a good team of professionals here and I don’t see that being a problem at all.”

The Ohio Public Works Commission has donated approximately $230,000 for work on Twin Creek, according to Sewert, starting with the foot bridge.

“It’s a warm habitat creek, high classification,” he said, “and there’s erosion going on. The trees are eroding and falling into the creek. So we’re basically trying to go in there, rehab the banks of the creek, take out the old trees, put some new ones in, and make it look really nice as you enter Lewisburg and go into the park.”

In 2015, the village constructed a water spray park across from the community center at a cost of about $50,000. “The first phase is done now,” Sewert said, “and it’s very nice, and very well enjoyed by the children in our community.”

Some $20,000 of the funds for the spray park were received from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ NatureWorks grant program. The village has applied for more funds from NatureWorks to complete the second phase, adding new elements to the facility.

“I think October is when we will know about that grant,” Sewert said, “and if we get the money, we’ll construct those water features in 2017.”

He said the village is also in final preparations for Derby Days, which is set for Aug. 18-20. “The Tri-County Community Association had their annual steak and pork chop fry recently to raise funds,” he said, “and I’m also happy to say our fireworks display, which costs $10,000, is 100 percent funded. We’re looking forward to a beautiful weekend.”

By Duante Beddingfield

[email protected]

Reach Duante Beddingfield at 937-683-4061 or on Twitter @DuanteB_RH.

No posts to display