BROOKVILLE — City manager Sonja Keaton informed council the city did not receive a grant that would have been used toward the purchase of a valve exerciser machine.

I received word from the Ohio EPA that our equipment grant, to purchase a valve exerciser, that we submitted in January was not selected for funding,” Keaton said.

The city attempted to purchase the valve exerciser through funds provided by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s H20 Ohio Initiative program.

“Grants are being offered to reimburse the initial cost of either valve exercising equipment, leak deck detection equipment and meter accuracy testing equipment in an amount not to exceed $10,000,” Keaton said last December.

“We have been looking at valve exercising equipment for some time,” Keaton added.

Keaton explained a valve exercising machine would be used by fire department personnel to open and close fire hydrants.

“Basically they use the machine to open and close fire hydrants because they need to do that regularly to maintain the fire hydrants,” Keaton said.

“It also helps to isolate water lines when we have water main breaks,” Keaton added.

Keaton indicated such work is currently done manually by city employees.

Keaton said last December the plan is to possibly purchase a 98003 valve exerciser machine equipped with a 13-horse power Honda engine with a reversible counter at a cost of $11,846.83.

Keaton said plans were to pay the remaining cost of the valve exerciser machine with money from the city’s water fund.

“We’re hoping there will be another round coming up so we can reapply for that grant,” Keaton said.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].