Bronaugh moves ahead on water project

Nevada Daily Mail

The Bronaugh Board of Aldermen moved one step closer to beginning a water project, which would remove much of the sediment currently finding its way through resident's faucets.

The aldermen voted to sign the application for a construction permit for Bartlett and West at its meeting Monday. With the permit, the plans for the project will be sent to the Department of Natural Resources by the end of the week.

The plans include treatment for the water before it enters the service lines, as well as a new roof for the pump house and widening the entrance for two doors. The chlorine room will be moved inside the pump house and the room sealed with a concrete block wall.

In other business, treasurer Ann Loudermilk showed the aldermen a $4,670.36 loss last year in available money in the sewer fund.

"With the 2014 budget, the estimated loss will be $6,500 which will leave a total in available money of $645.19 at the end of the year," she said.

She gave the aldermen several alternatives that would increase the city's income from sewer service.

The board could raise the minimum on sewer by $1 a month, which would result in income of $1,080 for the year, or $2 a month, which would result in income of $2,160 for the year.

Or the board could raise the sewer rates by $5 while reducing water rates by $5, which would result in an income of $5,400 for the year. Water rates would remain the same for those customers not using sewer. She said there are 11 water only customers, five residents and six non-residents.

Her fourth suggestion would be to raise late fees from $10 to $12.50, which would result in approximately $150 for the year. Raising usage rates for those customers using more than 1,000 gallons by $1 would result in income of $3,072 for the year.

She said if the town reduced Gary Loudermilk's pay and increased her pay, the town would save money in the sewer fund by taking the funds out of the government fund instead.

"One other way would be to change the way the electricity is billed on the two grinder pumps," she said. "The homeowners living in town would pay the electric instead of the town."

The aldermen tabled discussion on changing the sewer rates.

In the treasurer's report, the general fund had an increase of $272.79; the water fund had an increase of $1,013.50; and the sewer fund, $202.26.

In other business, the aldermen approved Mayor Sherry Brown to send letters to residents regarding dogs running loose and trash in yards and to place a culvert on the south side of Brown's house across the ditch for a driveway.

At the meeting, resident Billie Snyder addressed aldermen about her water bill. Snyder brought her October 2013 and February 2014 bills as well as a notebook with her readings. Brown said the readings Snyder wrote down are higher than what the town is showing and she would owe more than what the town billed. Brown explained to Snyder that her water bill must be paid by midnight in order to avoid late fees.

Brown told the aldermen of the soup/chili dinner and household shower on March 18 at city hall for Gary Loudermilk, and Roberta Mercer said she had received a letter from the state regarding ammonia standards.

"They are cutting the limits by 60 percent beginning in 2015," she said.

Gary said he could control the algae and possibly get the ammonia down by discharging the lagoon in the winter.