A new system for the City of Blue Ridge’s sewer plant was approved, a town hall meeting was announced, city employees are getting a raise, $248,000 was approved for Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements, and retaining walls, handrails and trenches are being created.
The city heard from Carlos Talbot of Reve Solutions, Inc. about a new system for the city’s sewer plant, and the city ultimately decided to partner with the company. The company will be responsible for removing solid waste, which will allow surrounding areas to come and use their plant. Currently, the city has to transport their waste to another location.
Planning, Zoning and Project Manager Jeff Stewart recommended the idea to the council saying they will be able to charge haulers 10 cents per gallon, with 8 cents going to Reve Solutions, Inc. and 2 cents going in the city’s pocket.
Mayor Donna Whitener said that, due to current circumstances, if anything were to go wrong at the plant they would be in financial trouble. However the company will take responsibility of repairs, and their services would cost the city around $5,000 more a year. As far as the affect on neighbors, Talbot said the change should not have any added disturbances.
A motion was passed to partner with the company after Whitener and City Attorney James Balli had gone over conditions and approved.
In other action, a town hall meeting was announced to discuss parking. The meetings will be Wednesday, February 5, at 9 a.m. and again that evening at 5 p.m. Additionally, Stewart was approved to sign checks in place of the mayor.
During an executive session, it was decided to adopt Blue Ridge Police Department’s pay scale, dated January 14, 2020, although revised January 16, and give all city employees a 2% cost of living raise
The Police Department’s pay scale, for starting salaries, is as follows:
•Part-time patrolman at $16/hour;
•Full-time patrolman at $18/hour;
•Corporal at $20/hour;
•Sergeant at $21/hour;
•Lieutenant at $22/hour;
•Captain at $23/hour; and,
•Assistant Police Chief $24/hour.
For each two years of experience, the pay rate will increase by 2% until officers reach 6 years of experience, then it will increase every four years. After 21 years has been met, officers will be maxed out for raises.
In other news, Matt Smith with Carter & Sloope told of Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements and proposed task release No. 22 was approved for $248,000. The plant needs a belt press, cooling system and “several smaller projects,” according to Smith. Improvements in the cooling system are being pushed by the Environmental Protection Agency, but work is being held on it until the agency informs the city of their 2019 temperatures.
He said the total projected cost of improvements will be around $2.5 million, not including the cooling system, which would be another $1.5 million.
The city decided to place solid concrete retaining walls from 1051 E. Main St. to 1081 on the same street and another on the hill of Mountain Street. Handrails will be placed on two areas on East Second Street “across from the public housing” as well as the sidewalk at the “Dynasty Spas building.” In addition, a trench will be refilled across from Fannin County Middle School, where it has eroded, which will cost $10,800 with Holloway Trenching, LLC.