MIDDLEPORT — Purchase of equipment to be used in detecting water line leaks and a report on receipts from the jail operation in 2012 were highlights of Monday night’s meeting of Middleport Village Council.

Mayor Michael Gerlach proposed the purchase of leak detection equipment which he described as “much like a metal detector” which would allow village employees to use repeatedly in areas which signal a water leak for a more definite location before starting corrective work. Having a company come in to locate water leaks is not only expensive, he said, but many times yield false information, causing extensive digging with a back hoe only to find its the wrong location and then having to fill in the hole and make repairs.

The mayor explained that with the probe which can define the actual location through repeated checks over a period of days, it will take only a small drilled hole to get down to do the corrective work. Village Administrator Faymon Roberts said that the village has about 20 miles of water line in the village and commented that the water loss is costly. Council voted unanimously to purchase the leak detecting device at a cost of $3,064 which Gerlach reported has no maintenance involved and will save the village much money in the long run.

A report was given on the number of days housing prisoners during 2012 and the money paid by outside law enforcement agencies, the totals were 3,881 days with $220.235 paid for housing for 2012. In January 2013, 71 prisoners were held for a total of 578 days at a total amount billed of $34,710. The increase in prisoners started when the Middleport Village moved from the old facility on Race Street into the newly renovated quarters on Pearl Street in late March.

The mayor noted that he had been contacted by a company which leases land owned by the Jay Hall family near where Leading Creek flows into the Ohio River. He said a private company is growing corn on the leased lot and has offered to lease the adjacent village owned patch of several acres for the same purpose. The pros and cons along with lease specifics were discussed with the mayor to further investigate before Council comes to any decision.

Councilman Craig Wehrung reported that he is in the process of working on the General Jim Hartinger signs at the entrances to the village. He said that the old signs are beyond repair and volunteered to make new ones.

Susan Baker, financial officer, read a list of salary increases for the police department which go into effect next month. An executive session was held following the regular meeting to further consider employee compensation.

Council members attending were Wehrung, Sandy Brown, Rae Moore, Penny Burge, Roger Manley and Emerson Heighton.