Chula aldermen review boil-water advisory, main break and billing fix

At a July 17 meeting the Chula Board of Aldermen heard that a chlorine shortage forced the city onto direct feed from the water district, which led officials to issue a boil-water advisory and to drain and refill the water tower.

City Clerk Ann Hamilton told the board she contacted water staff and notified members during the emergency. "The City's main priority is to provide safe drinking water for our residents," Hamilton said. Kent Spainhour, who submitted the water-and-sewer report, said the city received a draft sewer permit from DNR and that, after review, the city will not have to perform the WET test required previously.

Officials said the switch back to normal feed coincided with a main break under the railroad tracks. The railroad allowed city crews to run a line under the tracks so residents on the east side could regain water service. During the emergency the Chula Farmers Coop's quick-fill was temporarily shut off because its large fill line drained system pressure while the city was on direct feed.

Hamilton said she will contact Allstate Consulting to schedule a tower inspection and that Kent Spainhour will begin work on the CMOM (capacity, management, operations and maintenance) plan the city had discussed in prior meetings. Clerk Hamilton also reported that six late fees were assessed June 28; one customer, Cheslie Hays, paid on the 16th and incurred a $4.54 finance charge. The board voted to remove that finance charge; Alderman Randy Hamilton moved to waive the $4.54 charge and Alderman Geremy Bru seconded. The motion passed 4-0.

The board did not take additional regulatory actions at the meeting; officials said they will follow up with DNR permit items and the tower inspection as next steps.