Waynesville secures aquifer to help village growth
Village had sufficient capital improvement funds to purchase the property without incurring more debt.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
WAYNESVILLE — Operating in fiscal emergency, the village of Waynesville purchased 90 acres of farmland without taking on more debt to secure future water demands for the growing community, officials said.
The undeveloped property, which the village bought for $410,000, is along Corwin Road, within village limits and positioned on an aquifer that is adjacent to the village's existing well field and ideal to service northern Warren County, where much of the county's growth has taken place during the past decade.
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State Auditor Mary Taylor on April 15 placed Waynesville in fiscal emergency because it did not meet one of six audit conditions.
According to the audit, the village had several fund balance deficits totaling $532,035.
Despite the village's financial status, the village had sufficient cash balances in its water and water capital improvement funds to purchase the property without tapping into other funds and incurring additional debt.
The purchase also fits with the village's effort to preserve Waynesville history, said village manager Bruce Snell.
Snell said a 200-year-old dam exists on the property and diverts water from the Little Miami River through the nearby historic Old Mill Race.
"The dam provided water to power the former grist mill near what is now the Der Dutchman restaurant," village officials said in a statement. "Many residents of the Waynesville area share fond childhood memories of summers spent around the dam, the Mill Race or at the swimming pool previously located adjacent to the mill."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or
kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.
