Gainesboro Aldermen received requests from residents Thursday night to add more city water along Baugh Hollow Lane.
The properties in question are across from the county garage, which is not inside city limits. Consulting Engineer Nathaniel Green said to add more taps to the line, the town would have to upgrade the line.
“It’s the state-mandated requirements for volume and what the requirements are for each tap,” Green said. “So right now you counted there’s 15 taps on that line, and it’s over 4,000 feet long, which is actually longer than what they allow you now to run two-inch line.”
Green said the best option for the town to accommodate the property owners would be to upsize the line.
Several property owners were not opposed to cost sharing, but an actual estimate would have to be presented before the aldermen, or property owners would commit. Green said he will get a cost estimate and bring it forward to the aldermen so a decision can be made.
Green said there are other options, like meter nesting, but those options are not ideal.
“That’s not something we necessarily want to do, but it is something that has been done in the past,” Green said. “And if you nest those meters, it would be up to the property owner to come to the meter with their line and tie into it. And then we could potentially look at putting a flow restricting device so that if they ever exerted a volume that was greater than what would allow the pressure on the line, then it would shut it off. That’s an option. Now, that’s not a great option, but I’ve done it.”
One concern the aldermen had was how much it would cost to accommodate the property owners. Green said it would likely cost an estimated $100,000 – $200,000.
Property Owner Will Goodman said he has been struggling to get water as he has been unable to dig a well due to natural gas. Goodman said he is pleading with the town to find a way for him to get water access. Alderman Tom Goetz said that the property owners and the city could split the cost.
“Like I said, five wells into it, you know, you got nothing, and this would be a guarantee,” Goetz said. “But if the cost is spread amongst all the people that is buying land out there, that helps you and your property value going forward, and that is typically how it is done.”
In other business, the aldermen approved a resolution to participate in the Public Entity Partners’ “Safe Partners” matching grant program. The cost is $3,000, but the town will be reimbursed $1,500.
A resolution to set the water rate schedule for SRF funding was tabled till the next meeting. The town is still awaiting a water rate study before considering the schedule.
Joseph Lynch was promoted to Water Distribution and Street Department Supervisor on the contingency that he pass the water distribution test and OSHA 30-hour test. Lynch will take over for John Pigg as Pigg accepted a job with the county.
Bobby Netherton was moved to water distribution on the contingency that he get a license for water distribution.
