The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE – Bobby Irvine, plant manager, and John Riley gave a presentation regarding a needed Phase II improvement to the Clifton Forge water treatment plant at Tuesday night’s Clifton Forge Council meeting held at the public library.
The presentation was started by Town Manager Darlene Burcham.
The treatment plant was built in 1958-59 and officially began service Jan. 2, 1960, when the first filtered water from the town reservoir flowed through the town’s faucets. At the time it was a state-of-the-art facility designed to address the current regulatory standards set by the Virginia Health Department.
Over the years, as the town’s population decreased and regulations increased, problems began to surface due to funding restraints. No major upgrades have been performed for almost 50 years. Some of the equipment that was in place in 1960 is still in use today.
Eventually wear and tear combined with increasingly stringent regulations resulted in the Virginia Department of Health issuing a consent oarder. The order was issued June 23, 2006 and required the following: new filter media, repair of control valving, repair of rate of flow controllers and the installation of new coagulation control equipment. These were accomplished in Phase I.
Phase ll projects are not currently mandated by a consent order. They are areas of concern which will eventually need to be addressed to insure a continued supply of safe drinking water.
Draper Aden and Associates presented a pre-engineering plan which has been reviewed by the water plant staff in order to prioritize the areas of immediate need. Draper Aden identified over $9 million in future improvements which was reduced by the treatment plant staff to a range of $4 to $6.25 million.
Town Council authorized the town manager to submit four funding applications for water treatment planning grants in the amount of $30,000 each from the Virginia Department of Health Office on Drinking Water.
The four projects for which grant funding is being sought include Reservoir Capacity Study and Report; Phase II Treatment Process Improvements Preliminary Engineering Report; Energy Efficiency, Safety, and Security Improvements Preliminary Engineering Report, and Distribution and Storage System Improvements Preliminary Engineering Report.
For another project, council approved a resolution to appropriate funds in the 2010-11 fiscal year budget for the Nettleton Bridge abutment project and the Street and Highway Maintenance Revenue Fund. Burcham said the contractor poured the last concrete for the abutments Tuesday.
Council authorized three applications to be submited to The Alleghany Foundation by the Sept. 1 deadline. The applications include upgrading the second floor of Town Hall, including handicap access to accommodate use of the courtroom and other office space by council staff and citizens. The renovation will permit council meetings to be held in town hall instead of the library or fire station.
The second application is for an evaluation of expanding the town’s current Commercial Historic District to include much of the community’s historic housing stock.
The third application is for a walking/biking trail connecting the town to Douthat State Park.
Council authorized the town manager to donate surplus computer equipment to local non-profit organizations.
Council appointed Mayor Don Carter as a voting delegate and Vice Mayor Nellie Friel as alternate to the Virginia Municipal League meeting.
The town received $17,756 in insurance proceeds relating to the collision damage to the rear of the fire department’s ladder truck. The repairs to the ladder truck were recently completed and the council had to appropriate last year’s funds into the current budget for the payment of the repairs.
The town manager announced the closure of the skate park for the next 30 days because there have been numerous incidents of vandalism at the park that have precipitated the removal of the Port-A-John and extensive clean up efforts.
Council was informed that copies of meeting agendas as well as notices sent to the newspaper will be posted on the bulletin board in the hallway at the town hall, the library, and the public bulletin board at the Keswick Street parking lot.
Effective Sept. 1 occupants of every residence in town are responsible for placing closed, watertight trash containers at the designated point of pickup.
During the Hear the Public session Elwood Deisher, 621 Roxbury Street, complained that water lines need upgrading. Diana Kling-Smith asked about the option for the arts school at the former Clifton Forge High School and was told that Louise Belmont’s option is valid until Oct. 21.
Kling-Smith also asked about smoke testing and was told that testing will begin this week. She also inquired about traffic lights and was told that any traffic lights will remain property of the town when the two-way traffic begins because of the replacement of the bridge on Main Street.
After the regular meeting, council went into closed session for personnel and legal matters.
