After passing a motion that asks Lafayette water customers to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 15%, Lafayette city council members passed a motion authorizing Professional Engineering to begin running a water line from Hartsville to Lafayette.
In the same motion asking for voluntary water restrictions (see inset), the council gave Mayor James Y. Carter the authority to make those restrictions mandates if and when he, Water Superintendent Gene Reid, and Chief Water Plant Operator Dean Ellis decide that's necessary.
During this restriction, the Fire Department will gladly fill tanks with non-potable water for the purpose of watering livestock or greenhouses, said Fire Chief Keith Scruggs.
“If they have a tank, we'll fill it for any purpose except drinking water,” said Scruggs, “and we'll try to do it at their convenience.”
Water from Town Creek and Sullivan's Pond will be used to fill tanks.
On Friday, Scruggs advised that anyone having a fire within the city limits needs to call 666-2190 for a permit.
“We're not going to tell them they can't burn,” said Scruggs, “we just really want to know when and what's burning; especially when everything's so dry.”
Reid and Ellis advised the council that the water situation in the city was dire; reporting that White Spring was down 50% and the Barren River was down to just 4” above the intake. Off and on algae blooms in the river have caused that source to be shut down on occasion, making the situation even worse.
When the city had to go off of Barren River water due to an algae bloom, Ellis found that the springs wouldn't supply the needed water.
“We're going to have to go the Cumberland River, or we'll have to do without water,” Reid advised the council.
A motion by Flowers, seconded by Atwell, authorized Professional Engineering Services to change the scope of their project - which was to run a water line up Highway 10 - to go up the New Harmony Road route.
After a great deal of discussion, the motion passed, with Wilmore voting no.
According to White, the project should have Cumberland River water to the city within 18 months. Both Phase I and Phase II of the project will be started at the same time.
An 11% rate increase on water bills will pay off both the $2.5 million State Revolving Fund Loan and the $600,000 USDA Rural Development Loan that will pay for the project.
Donald Meador, of Meador Industries, addressed the council with a plea to help keep his employees employed.
“I need some leeway so I can save some jobs,” Meador said, noting that the business has grown from 10 to 32 employees in the six years it has been located in Lafayette's Industrial Park. “Without concessions, I don't know if we'll make it,” said Meador. “I don't even know if we'll make it with concessions.”
Meador asked the council for a six-month concession on rent payments, with that amount to be added on... at the end of their lease.
The council voted unanimously to give Meador Industries the six-month extension.
In other business, the council:
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