The Karns City School Board agreed to spend more than $21,000 to prepare the high school plumbing system to accept water from a new supplier.

The board agreed to purchase $9,953 in plumbing equipment from B.M. Cramer and Company Inc. and hired TUDI Mechanical Systems to do the installation for $11,563.

D&D Miller Water Co., a private water company in Karns City, is the current water supplier for the high school, Superintendent Eric Ritzert said.

The Petroleum Valley Regional Water Authority of Petrolia installed a line that runs in front of the school to provide water to area residents two years ago, but the district didn't tap into the line.

Ritzert said the owner of D&D is considering retiring and selling the business, possibly to Petroleum, so the district wants to be prepared to connect the school to Petroleum's system.

“We can't switch over without permission,” Ritzert said. “We're just trying to be ready, so if and when that day comes we'll be ready to do so.”

This is an excerpt — read the full story in Wednesday's Butler Eagle.