BROOKVILLE — City manager Sonja Keaton informed council the city’s application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for funds to be used to pay for a valve exerciser machine was approved.

Keaton noted the application request was submitted to the Ohio EPA in January of 2023, but was not approved.

“We did apply. Our application was not approved in the first rounding, but what they have done now is the remaining applicants, who were not approved in the first round, have now been approved for funding,” Keaton said.

“As soon as all parties accept the agreement, then we will move forward with the purchase of that valve exerciser,’ Keaton continued.

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

Keaton said at the Jan. 17, 2023 meeting the city has been “looking at purchasing a valve exercising equipment for some time.”

The valve exercising machine is used to open and close fire hydrants.

“They need to do that regularly to maintain the fire hydrants,” Keaton said at the Jan. 17, 2023 meeting,

“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 at the Jan. 17, 2023 meeting 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 indicated the city will be reimbursed $10,000 by the OEPA grant.

She said money for the remaining cost of the machine will come from the city’s water fund.

The grant opportunity is made possible by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].