The Town of Spring City is continuing to replace water lines to rid the town of its “red water” problem.
For years, residents have had rusty water because of the old water lines throughout the town. For years, city officials have been working to replace those lines.
New lines are planned for the several areas in the near future, according to Spring City Manager Woody Evans.
“We will be replacing lines on Hinch, U.S. 27, Rhea, New Lake, Murray, Cemetery, Landreth and others,” Evans explained during the regular commission meeting on Thursday evening.
Also during the meeting, Evans reported that the sewer outfall project had been approved by the state last week.
“We have heard the project was approved, but we have to wait for the official paperwork,” Evans said. “We then have to file for a permit with the Tennessee Valley Authority and then go out for bids.”
The Town of Spring City has received a $500,000 imminent threat grant from the state and a $250,000 federal grant to move the sewer outfall line. The total cost of the project is expected to be $750,000.
Last year, the city found that its sewer outfall line is located too close to shoreline and recreation areas. According to Evans, the sewer outfall line is too short. It will have to be pulled off the bottom of the lake, lengthened and then dropped back into the lake. Pumps may be needed in a few areas if the terrain of the lake bottom goes uphill.
QE2 Engineering has been working on the engineering for the project.
The new sewer line service to Watts Bar Nuclear Plant is still in the making as the engineering part of the project is going very well while the legal aspects continue to drag while TVA attorneys continue to review the contract, Evans said.
In other business, the city commission voted to purchase a backhoe for the city. The city has had its current backhoe since the 1980s.
“On Wednesday, we had a leak that needed to be repaired,” said Spring City Public Works Director and City Commissioner Dwight Mathis. “We had to fix the backhoe before we could get to the leak.”
Commissioners Mary Sue Garrison, Jeff Rhear, Mathis and Vice Mayor Conley McCulley voted to purchase a new Caterpillar backhoe and finance it for five years.
Mayor Kelly Reed was absent from the meeting.
Garrison voted to purchase the backhoe but was dissatisfied with how she received the financing information.
“I have no doubt that we need the backhoe,” said Garrison. “I would appreciate the city manager including the information on any agenda item in with the agenda so that the commissioners have time to look over it and make an informed decision rather.”
State Street Aid funds can be used to make the payments on the backhoe.
The city commission also voted to change the residential/professional zone side yard setbacks on the first reading. The new zone had called for 25 feet side yard setbacks, however, all the current residential/professional properties have 10 feet on each side yard. The zoning ordinance change will go into effect only after a second and final vote on the issue.
During the commission meeting, John Conroy, representing the Audrey Pack Memorial Library, presented a report and a long-range plan for the library.
This year a great effort was made to add new books and remove old books from the shelf, he said. A total of 1,588 books were purchased or donated at a total of $4,272. Another 739 books were received from the state library system through Fort Loudon Regional Library.
The library removed 1,884 books and the regional library removed 2,184 books.
“The state requires that the library “weed” out 5 percent of its inventory each year to meet Tennessee Minimum Standards for Libraries,” Conroy said. “This is the first year that standard has been met. The computer inventory has made that possible, and now we will be able to track the use of the books more efficiently.
Volunteers are essential to the operation of the library because city and county governments do not have the resources to increase funds to the library beyond the basic salaries, utilities, maintenance and operating supplies.
In the library board’s long-range plan, key areas for attention include: books, services, volunteers, technology, expansion of programs and building expansion.
The next regular meeting of the Spring City Commission will be held Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m. at the Spring City Municipal Building.
Shelly Kirchner Beasley can be reached at herald@xtn.net.