BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
MORROW -- A dispute over water service to the new Little Miami High School could end up before Warren County commissioners.
Morrow officials think Western Water Co. of Goshen Township in Clermont County is unfairly installing taps at the site of the school at U.S. 22 - Ohio 3 and Morrow-Cozaddale Road. They think the village should have the chance to provide water at a lower rate, but they are divided over whether the village can take any action. Mayor Vic Center said last week the village would consider asking the county for assistance.
"I was elected to protect the village," Mr. Center said Monday. "That includes the water department."
But Councilwoman Penny Hahn is not sure what the village can do because the land is outside the village.
Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Oliver appears to agree with Ms. Hahn because Morrow has not annexed the property.
"It would be difficult for us to contend that Morrow has a legal right to service this property, rather than just a desire to service that property," Mr. Oliver said Monday. "It's outside their territory."
Village Councilman Robert Kelsey said council is in the process of annexing the land.
Western Water General Manager Harold Hall was unavailable for comment and did not return a phone call.
Little Miami Schools Superintendent Michael Virelli said the site of the new high school is in neighboring Hamilton Township. It is scheduled to open in the year 2000.
"Western Water is our supplier in Hamilton Township," Mr. Virelli said. "We're already in Western Water's service area." Mr. Virelli said Morrow provides water to the present high school, junior high and Morrow Elementary. Western Water serves Butlerville and Maineville elementary schools.
Cincinnati Water Works is putting in a nearly $7.8 million line from along U.S. 22 - Ohio 3 to a treatment plant on Bennett Road that Western Water owns.
The village fears it will never be able to annex land to the west of town because it will never be able to offer water service, with Western Water already there.
The dispute has been over the path the pipes will take.
In 1996, Warren County allowed Cincinnati Water Works to build a nearly 13-mile waterline from Kemper Road to Western Water's facility. In 2008, Western Water is scheduled to take it over.
The village thought the pipes would run northeast along 22 - 3, then turn southeast and follow Morrow-Cozaddale to the plant. Instead, they continue northeast past Morrow-Cozaddale along 22 - 3 and then turn southeast near the village limits.
Mr. Center has said that prevents the village from competing to provide water to the new high school and a proposed 300-home subdivision. A June 1 decision in U.S. District Court prevented Western Water from using the new pipes to enlarge its service area.
Russ Weber, a Cincinnati Water Works project engineer, said Western Water had an easement where the line is being built.
