The City of Blue Ridge approved a Matchpoint estimate, a variety of invoices, project quotes and deferred several GEFA loans during their August 11 council meeting.
Matchpoint estimates 770 and 771 include a third party coming out to find leaks.
“It’s been very helpful in the past,” Mayor Donna Whitener said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a time that they came to do any leak detection that they did not find some issues.
“Very difficult for our guys to find some of these. We don’t have the equipment they have.”
Whitener suggested having the detection for two weeks, which would cost $12,000. Councilwoman Rhonda Haight suggested only having the detection for one week since “it’s been raining so much.”
Utilities Director Rebecca Harkins explained that rain is not a hindrance to the company; whereas, it is for the city, and the department has saved as much as 10% on water loss by having the company come out to detect leaks, which is around $2,000 a month in savings.
“It’s when they find a major leak that’s running under ground, that’s not coming to the surface that we really benefit from that,” Harkins said.
Last year, the company only came once.
Harkins said that the money is in the budget, and she would like for the company to come out for two weeks.
Haight explained that she misunderstood what Harkins and herself had discussed prior to the meeting, and if Harkins thinks two weeks is desirable, then she is in agreement.
Harkins said she will be happy with whatever the council will approve.
Councilman Nathan Fitts, who now oversees the water department, said, “With our percentage of water loss, I think we need to get it down some...”
Council members voted to approve the work for two weeks and allow Harkins and Fitts to decide when the company should come to do the detection.
Keck & Wood invoice numbers 1338289 ($3,626.86), 1338430 ($4,760.93), 1338611 ($1,484.23) and 1338823 ($471.25) include cumulative charges for the Streetscape Project, which was performed and completed on West Main Street.
Carter & Sloope invoice number 24434 includes $7,271.25 in fees for general consulting; whereas, 24435 was for improvements to the sewer plant, costing $4,102.40, 24436 was for sewer improvements along Highway 515, which cost $843.75, and 24438 was for EPD permitting for the water and sewer plant, costing $7,738.86.
The KISS invoice was for the A.M.I. meter reading software for the water department, which has been in use since 2015.
This software allows the department to save time reading the meters and doing analytics, according to Harkins.
TransSafe invoice number 115939 for $5,259.30 came after the placement of bump stops and signs along the fence on West Main Street.
An invoice from Lance Trucking, Ace Hardware and Fannin County Co-Op at $8,755.72 was for the drain, gravel and other materials for the Depot Street project.
EPD invoice number DW-2020-000908 is an annual fee that is required.
In order to repair the sidewalk along Depot Street and East First Street, the council approved Johnson Pavings estimate of $9,800.
The city approved a $14,999.85 quote for nine fire hydrants.
A quote for sealant for the area behind Fannin County Co-Op was approved.
A quote of $5,700 from Jim Mashburn to create a sidewalk along Robert’s Way was approved if he can start within 30 days.
An estimate to make repairs to the depot was awarded to Pete Gray in the amount of $2,850.
Councilman Mike Panter moved to go forward with the estimate with Stripe-It-Right, Inc. for over $5,000 as long as they will provide at least a one year warranty on the sealant.
Striping for the same area was approved with Strip-It-Right, Inc. under the same conditions.
Striping from Depot Street at West Main Street to the entrance of Overlook Drive was granted to Pro-Strips for $2,000.
Striping from Industrial Park Road from Ada Street to Lift Station 1450 was granted to Pro-Stripe for $2,000.
Striping from Bullen Gap Road from Highway 515 to the city limit sign was awarded to Pro-Stripe for $1,500 with a one year warranty minimum.
A striped sidewalk and cross walk on Roberts Way from Hanson’s Grill and up to Messer Street and East Main Street was awarded to Pro-Stripe for $4,195.
Railroad crossings signs and striping at Industrial Park Road, Mountain Street, Depot Street, Church Street, McKinney Street and Bullen Gap Road was awarded to Pro-Stripe for $21,000.
Panter moved to approve up to $20,000 with Johnson Paving for paving for the small gravel lot behind Fannin County Co-Op.
If this cannot be managed, the project will be awarded to Colwell Construction Company for $14,355 and have work begin in October.
Council members agreed to defer payments on six GEFA loans. Due to COVID-19, the city had the option to defer loans for six months, which is until December 31.
The purpose of the loans are for “necessary” improvements to the sewer plant, including a new belt press, computer system, electrical work, cooling system, and some for meter replacements.