WHITMIRE — Whitmire Town Council passed the first reading of the backflow and cross connections ordinance during the town’s Council Meeting Monday.
The first reading was passed after a motion from Councilman Michael Thomas and seconded by Councilman Dwight Lane.
The objectives of this ordinance are as follows:
• To protect the public potable water supply of Whitmire Public Works (WPW) from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the consumer’s water system such contaminants, waterborne health hazards and other significant pollutants which could backflow into the public water systems.
• To eliminate or control existing cross-connections, actual or potential, direct or indirect, between the consumer’s potable water system(s) and non-potable water system(s), plumbing fixtures and industrial piping systems.
• To provide a continuing inspection program of cross-connection control; which will systematically and effectively prevent contamination or pollution of the public water system.
The ordinance continues to state that the consumer or person in charge of any installation is to be in non-compliance with the ordinance shall be notified in writing with regard to the correction action(s) to be taken. This notice must explain the violation and give the time period within which the violation must be corrected. The time period set to correct a violation shall not exceed 30 days after receiving notice unless otherwise specified by Section Four (elimination of cross-connections:degree of hazard). If the violation has been determined by WPW to be an imminent hazard, the consumer shall be required to correct the violation immediately, according to the ordinance.
Violation of any section of the ordinance may be punished by a civil penalty listed as follows:
• Unprotected cross-connection involving a private water system which creates an imminent hazard — $1,000 per day not to exceed $10,000.
• Unprotected cross-connection involving a private water system which is of moderate or severe hazard — $500 per day not to exceed $5,000.
• If in the judgment of WPW, any consumer, manager, supervisor or person in charge of any installation is found to be in noncompliance with the provisions of the ordinance and/or neglects their responsibility to correct a violation, water service may be discontinued until compliance is achieved.
• Failure of consumer or certified tester to submit any record required by the ordinance, or the submission of falsified reports/records may result in a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation. If a certified backflow prevention assembly tester submits falsified records to WPW, WPW shall permanently revoke that tester.
• Failure to test or maintain backflow prevention assemblies as required — $200 per day.
• Enforcement of this program shall be administered by the Director of WPW or the mayor of the Town of Whitmire.
The ordinance also states that customers may apply for a variance from the application of the provisions of the ordinance, provided, such application must be made within 21 days of receipt by certified mail of WPW’s written demand for compliance. Such applications shall be made to WPW’s director, who may grant such a request only if the applicant is able to show that the variance requested will provide equivalent protection and presents no risk of contamination of the public water system. The determination of the director upon the variance request shall be the final agency decision.
Other business:
• A motion was made by Thomas and seconded by Councilman Galen Roche to allow the Rescue Squad to have their annual Turkey Shoot at the Armory.
• A motion was made by Thomas and seconded by Lane to allow the Whitmire Jaycees to use the City Gym for their annual Halloween Carnival on October 26.
• A motion was made by Thomas and seconded by Lane to, if need be, advertise for a part time police officer position.
• A motion was also made by Thomas and seconded by Roche to move forward with the police car grant (purchase of two police cars). The town’s part of the grant would be $28,904 — the total cost of the grant is $64,104.45.
• Chief Jeremiah Sinclair reported the department filed 58 incidents for the month of August and issued 70 citations. Some of the department’s calls included: shoplifting, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving under the influence, failure to stop for blue light and driving under suspension. One traffic collision was investigated.
• Mayor Billy Hollingsworth said while there is no move in date set, Town Hall renovations are moving along. He also said there will be a new phone system (nine phones $525 a month for 36 months).
• The Town of Whitmire had a beginning balance of $30,246.02, deposits $60,252.23 and expenditures $84,574.21 for an ending balance of $5,924.04. On the Public Works side, the town had a beginning balance of $96,663.00, revenue $72,631.21 and expenditures $89,165.28 for an ending balance of $80,128.93.