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Sardis residents concerned over cleanup
Published October 17, 2009
SARDIS CITY — Two residents asked the Sardis City Water Department Board to ensure a contractor cleans up after completing a project to upgrade water lines.
The residents requested the action during a board meeting Tuesday night.
A number of residents are concerned about leftover chert rocks and damage to landscape and property during work to upgrade water lines.
The contractor working on the project is Bedwell & Whorton Construction, of Rainbow City, officials said.
The project is part of a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant program to upgrade lines from 2 inches to 6 inches, giving customers increased volume and fire protection.
The grant covers improvements for areas on Broadwell Road, Johnson Avenue, Noblitt Road, Parkway Drive, Patterson Street and Walker Street.
One resident said the contractor left rocks in his yard and covered them with hay, causing his son to ruin a set of lawnmower blades.
Another resident voiced similar problems.
“I need to put a seatbelt on my lawnmower,” he told the board.
Board members said they expect the contractor to clean up.
Officials said the city is holding a $75,000 check for the contractor and will not release it until cleanup is complete.
“It’s going to be put back the way it’s supposed to,” board member Cooter Mosley said. “That’s one reason we’re holding the money. If they don’t, we’ll take the money and do it ourselves.
“In their defense, they’ve had some weather issues.”
Chairman Marty Brock said the recent heavy rainfalls have pushed the contractor behind. Officials expected the grant project to be complete by the end of September.
“We’re having a lot of complaints, and we want everything put back the way it was,” Brock said.
A list of residents with complaints was forwarded to Sardis City officials.
In other news, Water Department manager Brock Cash said his department is in the process of starting to upgrade lines on Son Johnson Road, Chapel Road and Jack Floyd Street. He said his department has also installed nine fire hydrants, or what he called flush plugs, recently.
On Tuesday, the board approved purchasing 448 meters — 100 at a time. Cash said he had identified the 448 meters ready for replacement. Cash said he plans to start replacing the meters at the start of 2010 and figured the project would take about a year to complete. After 1.5 million gallons of usage, the meters can stop registering accurately, Cash said, which can cause a loss of revenue for the department.
In other business:
∑ The board welcomed new member Dale Johnson, of Boaz Discount Drugs. He replaced Doyle Johnson.
“I believe in doing something that’s worthwhile, and I think this is worthwhile,” Johnson said.
Board members also elected officers. The board re-elected Marty Brock as chairman and Loyd Richey as vice chairman, and elected Cooter Mosley as treasurer.
∑ The board is exploring the possibility of upgrading lines on County Roads 2 and 431 and Green Acres Road in DeKalb County. Cash said the DeKalb County Commission has an account to pay for 80 percent of the materials for the project.
∑ Board members unanimously approved a budget for fiscal year 2010. Officials project nearly $900,000 in operating revenues for the year. The budget is similar to the FY 2009 budget.
∑ The board is invited to attend a free training session on Nov. 5 in Rainbow City. The session is organized by the Alabama Rural Water Association in partnership with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
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