Water Authority Plans To Approach Commission

It took some time and much discussion Tuesday for Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority members to decide on becoming part of a group of local organizations protesting the reduced budget fundings approved by the county commission.

After discovering their position as one of nine organizations with budget request funds moved into contingency following a budget hearing and without prior knowledge, JCWSA members decided last month that pursuit of $34,000 for county fire hydrant funding was necessary.

Unlike any of the other organizations with funds deleted from the county’s budget by the commission, authority members feel the county is bound to the funding because of a contract signed by the previous commission. In addition to that, unlike the other organizations JCWSA differs because they serve as an authority not a board.

During last month’s regular meeting chairman Tom Brazil was authorized to draft a letter to the commission outlining the aut-hority’s position. That letter was presented, read, and approved by authority members Tuesday and will be passed on to authority attorney Dan Roberts for legal review.

It wasn’t until after their own draft to the commission had been approved that authority members reviewed a letter from Economic Development Authority director Tracy Trovillo. The letter suggested that the nine parties affected by the contingency fund form some sort of a coalition.
{{more}}
Not wanting to dilute the JCWSA position some authority members thought it best to remain alone in their stance while others felt a little solidarity wouldn’t hurt the situation.

Authority members voted to become a party to the group with the condition that some additional verbage regarding their unique position be added to the group letter.

In other business relative to collaborative efforts, Brack Pound reported that the JCWSA subcommittee had met with the city of Monticello subcommittee to discuss water services to the new high school currently in construction. Since the new high school is in the JCWSA water jurisdiction, the city will need authorization from the authority to serve it.

Authority members agreed to concede approximately 500 feet of water service to the city following a barage of questions. The water pipes will be titled to the authority, paid for by the school, and serviced by the city.

Ken McMichael asked whether it was possible for the authority to one day be able to serve the school with this agreement in place. Executive director Linda Jordan informed him that since the school contract involves sewer services and the authority doesn’t yet have the capacity for sewer service there was no guarantee when the authority would be able to do so.

Mr. Pound also reported that the USDA emergency grant application for $500,000 was still in limbo. City financial records from 2004 were still needed before the process could continue.

He also announced that the subcommittees meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
Mr. McMichael provided a brief update of his meeting with legislators Rep. Jim Cole and Sen. Johnny Grant. It was reported that state funding for the Hwy. 16 bridge renovation didn’t look favorable.

Mr. McMichael also presented a resolution that the authority will abide by the open meeting laws. The resolution was approved.
Bill Hughes addressed the issue of providing only the minimum to the public. He said that there was nothing wrong with providing more than the law requires if it means keeping the public aware.

Mr. Brazil reviewed the response to the drinking water report issued earlier this year by the Northeast District Drinking Water Program engineer James Sellers. He outlined five corrective actions that had been already made.

The chairman also gave the monthly system operator report which included the purchase of 532,000 gallons of water from Newton County.
Authority members also acknowledged the death of a former colleague, Allan Platt.