County takes first step toward Moravian Trail waterline for residents

For decades, residents on Moravian Trail Road in Mill Township, east of Uhrichsville, have had to endure living with wells that produce little or no water or water contaminated with several kinds of bacteria.

But now they can have hope that a solution is in the works.

At their meeting on Jan. 21, commissioners passed resolutions declaring it a necessity to construct a 16,000-foot waterline along the highway and to advertise to request qualifications for professional engineering services for the project.

“It almost brought me to tears. It's been a long fight, struggle, battle,” said Jerry DeBolt following the meeting. DeBolt, who lives on the east end of the highway near state Route 800, has been working for two years to solve the issue. 

The waterline, if constructed, would serve 37 properties on Moravian Trail Road. The lack of water has had an adverse impact on property values in the area.

In addition, fire hydrants would be installed every 600 feet along the road. Currently, the nearest fire hydrants are in Dennison (3 miles from DeBolt’s house) and along Deersville Avenue in Uhrichsville. There are no ponds along the road for firefighters to draw water in case of a fire, he said.

The lack of water has made it difficult on residents.

“With the past two summers of drought, it has just been a nightmare,” he said. 

David Swails, another Moravian Trail resident, attended the commissioners meeting with DeBolt.

Swails, who lives on the west end of the road near Uhrichsville, has to travel to Newcomerstown twice a week for his family. His well only produces 50 gallons of water a day.

“That's a problem. This is not 1925. This is 2025,” DeBolt said. 

Currently, there is no cost estimate on the project. When the line is completed, it will be owned by the Twin City Water & Sewer District in Uhrichsville.

Commissioner Kristen Zemis said the county will seek grants to fund the project from the Appalachian Regional Commission,  Mid-Eastern Ohio Governments Association, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

No grants have been received so far, she said.

Following the vote on the project, Zemis said, “It's still got a long way to go. There's a lot of ifs. This is a really important first step.”

DeBolt applauded the officials that have helped him on the project, including state Rep. Jodi Salvo, state Sen. Al Landis, U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli and Kennedy Webb from OMEGA. At the last commissioners meeting DeBolt attended on the project. U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno sent a representative.

“When rural Ohio called, our politicians and representatives answered, and that gave me faith and hope to continue to pursue,” DeBolt said. “The commissioners here in the county are a great resource, but you have to be willing to ask and you have to be willing to understand that they're not out driving around looking for projects. But if you come to them with issues, they're willing to listen, and they're willing to help.”

DeBolt said projects like this waterline are important for Tuscarawas County.

“We need to understand that the more infrastructure that we have in our communities, the more it benefits the local residents. It allows for growth. It allows for property values to improve, and it keeps the community safe. We have safe water,” he said.