At a rescheduled meeting held on July 9, Randy Watson of Thrasher Engineer, project manager of the Moore – Porterwood water project told Parsons City Council that the project in on pace and that he hopes the main line will be finished by next week. However he has concerns about the water meters selected.
Watson said, “The Company supplying materials for this project does not carry the radio read (Sensus) meters that you have selected, so they will be getting them form C.I. Thornburg. C.I. Thornburg says you are in the blacked out area of Green Bank and may not have the necessary software to read these meters.”
City Administrator/Treasurer Jason Myers stated that the city has software in place that should be compatible and was aware of the blackout area, but that there was a lower frequency meter that would be acceptable and the radio transmissions would not be strong enough to interfere with Green Bank quiet zone area. Council wants radio read meters installed that will enable staff to get meter readings on a laptop with just a drive by.
Watson replied, “They just want to be sure that you know you need this software to be able to read the meters being installed.” Myers said, “I will contact C.I. Thornburg to work out the logistics on the meters and software.”
Council then voted to pay the first requisition of $214,702 on the project. Total cost of the water project is expected to be around $1.5 million.
Watson said that he feels the next project the city needs to look at is installing a new water tank on the Quality Hill side of the river.
Tim Auvil, speaking on behalf of the Parsons Park Board said, “We have a name for the new skate park: ‘Good VIibes Skate Haven’. This name was chosen by the kids. We asked those who attended the opening to submit their suggestions. The new name was chosen by putting two suggested names together, good vibes and skate haven.” Auvil continued saying that he is very proud of the kids using the park. “They are keeping it clean and have taken the little ones under their wings and are teaching them to skate” stated Auvil.
Auvil stated that the park board is looking into adding a Splash Park in the Mill Race Park. He says, “The board has been researching costs and fixtures available for such an addition and hopes to start on something next year.”
The park board is also planning to improve parking at River City Park and adding a rail fence, similar to those at Gettysburg, for the Corrick’s Ford Battlefield area.
Auvil reported that the bathrooms at Mill Race will be handicap accessible as soon as the new doors are in place.
City Council voted to adopt a Security Camera Policy. Cameras are in place at the municipal building and at the Wellness Center. These cameras will have a very limited access by law enforcement personnel only and will not record anyone exercising. Auvil wanted to make sure that the public knows that their privacy will not be infringed upon.
In other business, council voted to replace the door at the Parks Maintenance Garage, sell the 1987 Ford F350 Bucket truck for $1,000, as is with no warranty implied, and had the second reading of the ordinance to update and adopt a new Personnel Policy Handbook.
The next regular meeting of the Parsons City Council will be held on July 23 at 6 p.m. at the Charles W. (Bill) Rosenau Municipal Building in the Tucker County Magistrate Courtroom.