Trezevant Board Hears Complaints on Water, Sidewalks

TREZEVANT (July 8) — During the regular monthly meeting of the Trezevant Board, two citizens expressed concerns that led to heated exchanges with town officials.

Rita Galloway contended that not all proper steps were being taken by the water department to ensure safe drinking water. She referenced hydrant flushing reports showing that not all hydrants were treated with a chlorine residual before and after flushing. She also referred to conversations with Noah Reid, the state's environmental scientist tasked with surveying Trezevant's water system, as well as Reid's supervisor.

"If we're going to have city water, then the steps need to be followed where our water is safe and we're assured that it's safe because those steps have been followed. They have been put in place for a reason."

Trezevant water operator Erik Grimes responded that he followed his training and state regulations. "I was told in my training that only the dead ends have to be done that way. Noah said, 'Ok that's fine. I want you to do every hydrant from here on out.' And he is the state. I said, 'Yes, sir. I will do that from now on.' And here we are."

Galloway noted that she works for another water department. She also said that Reid's supervisor stated that all of the hydrants should have been done all along.

Grimes stated that for the flushing that is in progress now, every hydrant is being treated with the chlorine residual.

Galloway said she wasn't experiencing brown water personally, to which Grimes said it would be remedied as soon as possible if she was. Galloway continued that she received messages "almost every day" that people's water was brown.

Grimes said, "They're not telling me. Tell them to call city hall."

Galloway said, "I told them who to call, but it's not city hall."

Grimes replied, "Well, it won't do any good if they don't call city hall."

Galloway said, "I just want things done right so when we pour a glass of water from our faucet, we can safely say we're good, we can drink it."

Grimes replied that he drinks the water every day, "so if somebody gets sick, it will be me."

Galloway said, "Well I won't."

Grimes noted that the system received a 100 on the sanitary survey, which Galloway says she questions. "You should not have gotten a 100," she contended.

Grimes said that restricting the treatments to dead-end hydrants was "not a pointable offense," to which Galloway asked, "Ok, then why do it?"

Grimes replied, "I don't know. Ask the state."

Galloway said, "I don't know either, but it hasn't been done and we just want safe drinking water."

Grimes said, "But I'm doing them now like he told me to… I promise you, you have safe drinking water."

Alderman Don Barger asked Grimes if he was following the instructions. Grimes said, "I meet or exceed all state standards."

Barger said, "Thank you, and thank you, Rita, for bringing that up and putting us on the right track. Whether it is or is not required by law, we are doing what is recommended."

Citizen John Quinn raised concerns about the condition and safety of the town's sidewalks, stating that by ordinance, the town is required to ensure that property owners are maintaining the sidewalks on their properties. Quinn presented photos of several examples of dilapidated sidewalks.

He referred to the other issues that have been discussed in recent meetings and asked, "When are you guys going to put some teeth in this and get something done so we can be safe."

Quinn accused the board and mayor of ignoring his concerns because they don't like him. "I know y'all don't like me. I don't care. Get over it. I could care less. This is about safety."

He stated that if someone gets hurt on the sidewalks, he's going to show them the pictures he has and the town's ordinance and suggest they go to an attorney and "make sure they come after the town of Trezevant for not doing your jobs."

Alderman Leon Lyell expressed his intention to assess the sidewalks before the next meeting. Mayor Bobby Blaylock spoke about options, including contacting property owners to begin a dialogue about repairing the walkways. He noted that an insurance auditor would be assessing the town before the next meeting.

Quinn requested to be on next month's agenda to revisit the issue.

Alderman Don Dieringer addressed the need to restrict access to the city's dumpster while still making proper use convenient for Trezevant citizens. With the gate open all the time, people from outside of Trezevant have been using the dumpster, and items not suitable for the dumpster have been put in it.

Dieringer suggested that a city employee could be on call for part of Saturday to give access to residents. Grimes chimed in that he had some duties on Saturdays and could also fill that need.

During city hall business hours (8 a.m.-4 p.m.), residents can gain access from city staff.

The town will add signage that indicates restricted items and who can be contacted about disposal of those items, which include refrigeration and AC units, tires, oils and chemicals, certain batteries (power tools, vehicles, ride-on toys), paint, tanks (helium, propane and compressed air), shingles, mattresses and box springs and household food. Another sign will give instructions for gaining access depending on the day and time.

Dieringer will draft an ordinance to present at the next board meeting.

City recorder Virginia Knott informed the board that the software the town uses for water bills is in dire need of an upgrade. The system is currently causing meter reading and billing issues. Financial officer Gabby Davis said that the upgrade will cost $14,000, but that price will increase in January. She said that the expenditure wouldn't require any adjustment to the overall budget.

Grimes informed the board that one of the town's pumps needs bearings replaced. He also reported that one of the town's two wells was sucking up sand and will have to be turned off. A new well will need to be established within three years. For now, the shut off well will only be used as an emergency backup.

The meeting adjourned in just under an hour.

Vice Mayor Pam Joyner was absent.