Sylvania: Water sources meeting slated
1/29/2004Sylvania officials will host a regional meeting Tuesday about alternative or supplemental water sources for area communities.
Mayor Craig Stough said he anticipates about 75 people will attend the meeting at Lourdes College meant to discuss water issues and possible alternative delivery systems.
He called the meeting at the suggestion of Lucas County commissioners Harry Barlos and Maggie Thurber, who have said they are interested in the potential of an alternative water source being developed for parts of Lucas County, rather than those areas having to rely on Toledo.
Sylvania has been acquiring property easements in Michigan that can be used for a water system for western and southern Lucas County. Pipes could be directed north to serve communities in southern Michigan.
The commissioners suggested the meeting after Toledo Mayor Jack Ford proposed that the city install a water line to Berkey and Richfield Township, and possibly south to Spencer Township.
Mr. Ford said that in exchange for extending water to those communities, they would have to implement land-use plans and consider tax-sharing agreements among other conditions.
The controls, he said, are necessary to prevent rapid development in the areas where water would become available.
Mayor Stough said he is sympathetic to Toledo s concerns, but Sylvania is a mature city that has to protect against movement from its city to other areas.
“We re not trying to be militant and get into a fight with Toledo, the mayor said.
There have been no problems in Toledo s delivery of water to Sylvania, he said, and noted that it has continued in sufficient volume even when there have been drought-like conditions in the area.
He acknowledged that building a competing system would be “expensive and inefficient.
Nevertheless, it is one of many alternatives that need to be discussed, he said.
Mr. Stough said a study a few years ago suggested that a consortium of communities be formed to purchase Toledo s water system.