Gainesboro Aldermen discussed possible action against a property owner Thursday after the city repaired a busted waterline at an old North Murray Street factory.
An estimated 20,000 gallons of water were lost when a valve inside the factory ruptured Wednesday. Police Chief Mickey Smith said the property experienced a similar leak about 20 years ago and suggested the town could consider taking action.
“They were supposed to put a cutoff on it, or the guy was going to have to be responsible for the water leak, cause I was working night shift, and just like that, I’ve had it running out the front door,” Smith said. “So, you might be able to go back in the minutes or call the guy that owns it and tell him that you are gonna charge him so much money.”
Mayor Lloyd Williams said the waterline is connected to a fire sprinkler system and does not have a water meter, so the city cannot charge the property owner for the lost water. Alderman Tom Goetz said he would like to see the city send an invoice to the property owner for the parts and time it took for the town to repair the leak.
“It doesn’t matter about the water; it’s the time that they spent and everything else,” Goetz said.
Alderman Beth Young echoed Goetz’s thoughts.
“He needs to be aware,” Young said. “And you can even put in there that it was an approximate loss of however many, 20,000 gallons of water, which you are not being charged for, but this is what you are being charged for.”
The board asked Water Department Employee Joe Lynch where he repaired the leak. Lynch said he repaired the leak outside the building.
“I shut it off so it can’t ever have water again,” Lynch said. “There’s no way we could fix that (the valve inside the building).
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