Published: June 09, 2009 11:33 am      

MUC discusses mapping water system, cost

Monticello —





Board members for the Monticello Utility Commis-sion have created a

position to hire someone to map out the water system in the city and county,

following a discussion on the matter last Thursday, June 4.

System Manager Gene Jones noted that a map of the water system would

show where water lines, valves, and hydrants are located. This would be a

very expensive project if the MUC hired a company to both map out the system

and compile it into a book, so he encouraged board members to consider the

possibility of hiring someone to do the initial work and then getting Bell

Engineering to put it in book form.

Jones pointed out that once all of the water lines, valves, and hydrants

had been located they would then have to go back to the 911 addressing and

change the road names accordingly. Mapping the water system will be a

lengthy process, and could take up to two or three years, according to

Jones. After the system has been mapped out and the road names updated

according to 911 addressing, then the information would be passed on to Bell

Engineering who would then put it into book form.

Jones noted that hiring someone to do the groundwork and Bell

Engineering to do the book would result in a significant savings for the

utility commission.

In other news, the board:

€ heard a report from Gene Jones. He noted that some beavers that had

been brought into Chestnut Grove (in the Sunnybrook area of Wayne County)

could present some serious problems for the Monticello Utility Commission if

the water line in that area was to break. According to Jones, the water line

follows a creek and beavers have been brought in and released into that

creek. They have been building their dams, which has caused the water in the

creek to back up. The water line is located beneath all of the backed-up

water and this could cause serious problems for the utility commission if it

were to ever break.

Jones noted that he has contacted the proper authorities, including the

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, about this problem and received

authority to do what needs to be done to take care of the situation. He

noted that this will be an issue the board will need to discuss later.

€ heard departmental reports for the month of May from Glen Ramsey, who

reported on the water treatment plant, and Donnie Lester, who report on the

waste water treatment plant. Jones gave a report on the distribution line

and Ruby Villarreal gave a report on the financial statement.

€ hired Heather Piercy as the customer service representative.

€ discussed two bids that had been received on painting the shop

building. The board voted to accept the lowest bid.

€ voted to advertise for two personnel positions: one was a position on

the line crew and the other was a Class 2 operator or above (or equivalent)

for the water treatment plant.

€ approved the budget, which will now be passed on to the City Council.

€ was informed that the MUC office will be open on Friday, July 3 and

will take Monday, July 6 for their holiday.