GREENE COUNTY
The Greensboro City Water Department continues to struggle with repairs to the antiquated water and sewer system.
Department head Freddie Evans told councilmembers Monday night that the big challenges are finding contractors and replacement parts.
“It’s hard to find contractors to come in and do work because everybody in just about every county is working to replace water lines, put in new water lines and sewer lines,” Evans said. “Also…when you have an aging infrastructure, you have all types of fittings and pipes and stuff, and the availability of those parts have gotten to be really, really hard for us to find.”
Evans says delivery on materials used to take three to four days but now it takes as long as 30 days. Even finding asphalt to repair roads has become a problem, especially on the sewer line repair on East South Street. Evans says the Pittman Company plant in Siloam, which is the source of asphalt, has a broken asphalt machine.
On West Broad Street, repairs to a water line are taking longer than expected.
“The six-inch water line has a ‘leaded joint’ that is leaking so we will have to be able to install two hot taps to shut the water off,” Evans explained.
He says the water system in Greensboro is set up so that if they shut off the flow from one direction, it can still come from another direction.
Evans says the temporary cut of water service will only impact the First United Methodist Church during the middle of the week. Evans also reported they are in the process of trying to hire an equipment operator and a water technician.
City Financial Specialist Kierra Cunningham got approval from the council for a new Purchasing Policy that she says she and City Manager Javis Simms developed.
“We want to establish a policy that shows the best value for our city by making sure that we receive the best quality, performance and price,” Cunningham said. “Also, there is a vendor package that will require all vendors to complete entirely before they can complete any jobs for the city.”
Simms was not at the meeting Monday night but after the session, Mayor Corey Williams was asked by the Lake Oconee News why an established city like Greensboro would need a new purchasing policy.
“There were a lot of things that weren’t in place so we’re getting things together,” Williams said. He was elected mayor two years ago.
When asked if he was saying the purchase policy that has been in place was “not adequate and you are just improving it,” the Mayor responded, “Yes, sir.”
Also at Monday night’s Greensboro City Council meeting:
• Chantelle Hudson, representing Bureau Veritas, the contractor handling planning and zoning for the city, presented a rezoning request for 10.7 acres of land off Town Creek Parkway from B-1 Neighborhood Convenience Commercial to B-2 General Commercial Highway Oriented District. The applicant is proposing that the property at the intersection with Old Eatonton Road be developed for use as a Truck, Boat, and Recreational Vehicle parking facility. The council took no action but will consider the request at its Oct. 16 meeting.
• Council approved beer and wine licenses for two events at Festival Hall – The Jazz Legacy Project (Oct. 19) and The Lake County Players presentation of “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Nov. 2 – 5).
• Council members are still seeking applicants for open positions on the city’s Youth Council.