It was reported to me Thursday, at about 1 p.m., that there was a water break at the end of Jury Street. It soon became a major blowout resulting in water flowing past the 911 Center and down 10th Avenue. The maintenance crew had to start shutting off valves in various areas in order to isolate the leak and make the repairs. While they were doing that work, many residents near the courthouse and on Hamilton Hill began losing pressure and then lost water altogether. The Town requested WVMR make announcements on the radio and 911 issued alerts as to what was going on. The repairs were complete by 5 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.
Some catch-up news
from October 10 – 14:
Members of the town’s Planning Commission and Housing Authority completed a training session which was led by Professor Jesse Richardson of the WVU Land Use Academy Program. Other work sessions are on-going with regard to ordinances required by Fire Marshal’s office as well as to meet FEMA requirements. This will be a process as we move into 2017.
Last Week’s Activities
Monday – Town maintenance crew prepped Second Avenue water line cuts and the Ninth Avenue sewer line cut, for completion of concrete repairs.
Tuesday – Street repairs were made as planned, following a previous sewer job on 13th and Ninth Avenues, plus three water repair locations on Second Avenue. Jenny Split and Cemetery Road ditches were cleaned. The porta-john that was located on First Avenue will be removed for the winter.
FYI – all aspects of cost savings and efficiency are considered, as we move forward. ie, in, September, the town picked up and hauled 99.24 tons of trash and garbage to the landfill – at $72.75 per ton, the cost was $7,219.72. Twenty-one trips were made to the landfill, at an average of 4.73 tons per load – sometimes we can haul eight tons per load. If the loads had averaged six tons, the town could have saved $1,375.20, which is very doable. For future reference, a 9.5 ton average would cut the number of trips to the landfill in half, resulting in a 50 percent savings for labor and trans- portation.
Wednesday – I had the pleasure of attending an Open House at the Edray Industrial Park. The public was given an opportunity to tour the facility and see the space that was completed in 2005. The search for a tenant has been unsuccessful to-date. However, following this open house, a new wave of networking will take place. I believe new enthusiasm has been breathed into what is the hardest and most important part, yet to come – jobs.
Lesson: We have to keep working or nothing happens. Plan your work – Work your plan. Many people have had a part and continue to work toward bringing jobs to this property. Now, I am asking, do you want to have a part in securing those jobs? Be praying with me, for a start-up company or the expansion of an existing company, to decide to bring 25 to 40 good and dependable jobs to this commercial space. Fifty new jobs would be good. We’ll take 10. One thing is for sure, it is past time that the hum of industry finds its way to what could be a beautiful location for local bread-winners to spend an eight hour day.
On another item, that same evening I attended a Region IV meeting in Lewisburg at the Greenbrier Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is located in the former Yaird’s building. Pocahontas County literature and information is provided there. A map of the county hangs in a prominent spot, showcasing areas of visitor interest.
Thursday – The aforementioned major water break and screaming customers took priority all afternoon. While other calls had to do with sewer issues, boundary-line fences, and complaints about signs. Another interesting day at the Mayor’s office.
59 News was at the office on a totally separate matter, but by evening, there was an after-thought story about Elk Mountain become the primary news story.
Friday – B&O Tax issues within the town. Follow-up on complaints. Update notes.
I’d like to tell you about my trip to the DMV – but, it was probably just like yours!
JUST A THOUGHT: Have you ever noticed how specialists can tell us what the weather will do in fifty years, but, were unable to predict where Hurricane Matthew would make landfall until about 24 to 36 hours prior to the event?
