The Odin Village Board has given a verbal commitment to Gateway Regional Water Company to connect to its system.
Mayor Greg Smith says initially the connection from a Gateway line near US 50 and Hoots Chapel Road would replace water purchased from Salem and possibly later from Centralia. Smith sees the move as a way to lower or stabilize water costs for Odin residents.
Gateway’s current rate of $4.15 per thousand gallons is 50 cents lower than what they pay from Salem and also less than the current rate from Centralia. Smith expects both to go up. A Gateway water official told the board they don’t expect to raise its rate for the next several years after a recent increase to its current rate.
Smith says the verbal commitment comes with no financial obligation at the present time.
“We will get it rolling. We are hoping to get some financial aid from either the EPA or the other agency and if approved we will connect with Gateway. And when the contract expires with Salem then we would switch to Gateway.”
The board also discussed replacing asbestos concrete waterlines that connect Odin to the Centralia Water Treatment Plant and another that runs down the Selmaville Road. They agreed to hold off for now until the Gateway project is further along. Round Table Engineer Kevin Phillips says the cost of the work would most likely be around $ 2.5 million. An EPA grant and loan could be sought for the project, with half the amount not having to be repaid.
The Odin Village Board has also voted to allow Police Chief Joe Nix to enter into a five-year agreement with Axon to purchase two body cams and two new tasers at a cost of $40,000. Nix notes the village will be mandated under state law to have body cams by January 1st, 2025, but he feels moving forward now is best. He says their two tasers will be out of compliance at the end of the year and he’s fearful equipment may not be available if they wait until the last minute to get the body cams.
Odin residents are reminded the Fall Cleanup is underway this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Dumpsters are available for township and village residents only in the west parking lot of the Odin School.
