Bronaugh Aldermen consider water complaints

Nevada Daily Mail

Although the Bronaugh Board of Aldermen's March 7, meeting dealt with street repairs and a possible grant for a storm siren, the issue on everyone's mind was public concern about the city's water. This meeting was the first since increased water and sewer rates went into effect. Mayor Sherry Brown was anticipating lengthy public comment and had prepared fact sheets for review, however, no one came. Since nearly all present had heard from fellow citizens, there was a review of past and current water projects.

When contacted, Bronaugh resident Tim Millman said, "The people of Bronaugh pay too much for bad water. The prices are high and you don't want to drink it. I use just over 5,000 gallons of water a month. Last year, my bill averaged $51.50 a month but according to the notice the city just sent us, as of April, my average will be $70.40. And when you add in sewer, I'll be paying $144 a month. That's ridiculous."

Mayor Sherry Brown explained, "Rates for water and sewer increased last month to cover a loan by the city for construction of a new clear well and an aerator. What folks don't get is the state practically mandates what our rates have to be. Rates have to cover repayment of the loan, maintenance of our system, a 20-year equipment replacement reserve and be equal to 2 percent of median household income. I know how ridiculous that sounds but if we don't comply we get no loan, no help, nothing!"

Area residents have a range of concerns. "What I don't get," asked resident Linda Wilson, "is why didn't the city put a compliance clause in the previous contract so that getting it right would be on the engineers?"

Christi Millman added, "While the water of some people is better than others, I'll tell you this, my dog won't drink any of it. It has a strong chlorine smell, leaves your clothes smelling sour and when you come out of the shower, your skin feels slimy."

City treasurer, Ann Loudermilk, and husband Gary Loudermilk, chief water and sewer operator, provided some history and detail about past and current projects. "We're in the middle of our third water/sewer project," noted the treasurer.

Gary said, "Some folks seem to have forgotten just how bad our sewer used to be. It was dangerous, unhealthy, and the state demanded we fix it or else."

"And that's when we borrowed $556,000 as part of a $1.2 million project to replace our entire sewer system. We spread that loan out over 33 years," added Ann.

"Project number two had to do with our old well, which was dug in 1959," said Gary. "One day the Department of Natural Resources came in and said we had too high a count of radionuclei. And the only way to deal with that is dig a new well."

"So, in 2011, we borrowed $295,000 from the USDA as part of a project that gave us a new well, pumphouse, elevated tower and water mains. And before you ask about a performance guarantee, folks need to understand that there ain't no such animal. State law holds engineering firms harmless; they can't make and we can't demand any guarantees on water quality. I know it's crazy but there it is."

"And that," noted Gary Loudermilk, "brings us to our current problems and what we're doing to fix them."

"What folks have to understand is that we don't have the clear well and aerator installed yet; they're not due to be finished until May 16," said Ann.

Said Gary, "The well we dug in 2011 hit something that no one else has in this state, naturally soft water. A bunch of fellows from the state even came down to see it for themselves, it's unheard of."

The water from that new well was found to have several problems. It has a high level of dissolved minerals and oxygen that makes it cloudy to milky appearance. The water has a high level of naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide, giving an odor of rotten eggs. "It's even worse than what Nevada water has," noted Bronaugh's water chief.

Balancing the water has required addition of high levels of chlorine, which adds to the odor problems. "Folks need to understand that construction on our current project won't be finished until May 16," said Ann Loudermilk.

The last two weeks of May will be used to remove lime by flushing the lines, have the aerator deal with the hydrogen sulfide and for sediments to settle out in the clear well. "I also have to rebalance the water and it should take a lot less chlorine so that smell should largely go away," said Gary Loudermilk. "So if all goes well, in early June residents should see, smell and have better water."

As of April, residents of Bronaugh will pay new water rates of $20 for the first 1,000 gallons and $12 for each additional 1,000 gallons. Sheldon charges $12 for the first 2,000 gallons and $.50 for each additional 100 gallons. Walker's rates are $15 for the first 1,000 gallons and $5 for each additional 1,000 gallons. Schell City rates are $25 for the first 1,000 gallons and $14 for each additional 1,000 gallons. This means that a resident who uses 5,000 gallons a month would pay $68 in Bronaugh, $27 in Sheldon, $35 in Walker and $81 in Schell City.

Mayor Sherry Brown brought up the issue of summer street repairs. "It's our duty to think of what the citizens want. That is why I obtained the cost to place a two-inch cap of asphalt over our streets and the cost to chip and seal."

The bids for the two-inch cap ranged from $1.40 to $1.65 per square foot while chip and seal was 40-60 cents per square foot."

Seeing the small amount of funds available for street repairs, aldermen decided to do the same as last year and patch the roads. Said Mayor Brown, "I strongly feel we need to take the savings we gain from patching and save it so that over time, we can get to a point where we can resurface our roads."

The mayor then told the aldermen that she had received information from the Missouri Emergency Management Agency about possible grants. "The state would provide 75 percent of funding while we'd have to provide the remaining 25 percent."

Mayor Brown described two options. "We could apply for a grant to purchase a storm siren or to build a community safe room in case of bad storms or a tornado."

Aldermen asked about respective costs. Said the mayor, "A FEMA approved shelter to hold 20 people would cost a total of $15,000 while one large enough to hold 75 percent of the town's population would cost $100,000."

Aldermen directed the mayor to apply for a $20,000 grant to cover the cost of a storm siren, pole and incidentals. Grants will not be awarded until later this year.

The council's agenda called for consideration of a dangerous building ordinance. "We have some properties we need to tear down," said Lori Conner, city clerk.

Following a brief discussion, it was decided to give aldermen time to read the proposed ordinance and be ready to take action at the next meeting set for April 12. If needed, a special meeting will be called to authorize partial payments related to the current water project.