South Logan sent a request to the city in September 2007 asking for the encroachment so they could extend new lines which would keep water flowing to most of its customers in those areas during maintenance. The way it is now, if the association had to cut off the water due to repair a large portion of its customers in the Greens and hospital would be without water during the process and a boil water advisory would have to be issued.
“This project benefits the customers in those areas,” said South Logan engineer Chris Wilcutt, who attended last week's council meeting along with operator Jerry Taylor and Joel Armistead. Wilcutt said the project was being funded by $90,000 of unused grant monies and anything left over would go to other projects.
What stifled the council was its learning that there were only three to four inch water lines feeding the Greens. This alarmed Mayor Gene Zick and the council.
“Fire protection requires six inch lines doesn't it?” asked Zick. Logan Memorial Hospital is serviced on a six-inch line.
According to Taylor, a fire hydrant running off of three to four inch lines would fill a fire truck but the line wouldn't service as a direct hookup from a hose. “You are not completely without fire protection,” said Armistead, “you are just not where you want it to be.”
Wilcutt said with respect that it was the responsibility of the association to supply potable water and not fire protection. He said the association inherited the subdivision and was not involved in its construction. The city of Russellville annexed the subdivision in 1999.
“The project we are working on now is not an upgrade but an extension,” said Wilcutt adding “There may be upgrades in the future but not at this time. This is a separate project all together.”
Wilcutt asked Zick if it wouldn't be the city's cost to upgrade. Zick said yes, but added he would have to see how much it would cost. It is Zick's hopes the association would help.
According to Taylor, Manshart subdivision is in the same condition.
“When it was built in the 1960s no one thought about line size. I am sure Russellville has lots of three and four inch lines throughout the city which are hooked up to hydrants,” said Taylor.
Councilman Chuck Phillips said he respected South Logan and the job it was doing. He also said he hoped South Logan respected what the city was trying to do by looking into upgrading that area to provide better fire protection.
Councilman Lanny McPherson made a motion to table the issue for two weeks which would give them time to speak to people in the Greens and engineers and to get an idea of how much it would cost.
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