Water Treatment Plant - Meeting 2-28-11

A point of concern.
Following is information from the February 28, 2001 public town meeting of the Hot Springs Water and City Council. It consists of specific information regarding new water facilities for the water district.

I noted there were 130 plus residents, many from Garland County, outside the city, were present. An estimated 10 percent of the total was from a housing development in the area wanted for the installation of the new facility. Three were from Diamondhead and none from Riviera Utilities or the people trying to buy the company. I find this strange as it concerns the water quality for Diamondhead. These people should be concerned and involved.
The speakers included the City Manager, the City Project Manager, the Jacobs Engineering Project Manager and a representative from the State Health Department.

The site, just above the Carpenter Dam, was selected in 2004 and Jacobs Engineering was hired to oversee the project, at a contract price of 3.3 million dollars with 2.8 million being spent so far. When asked who approves the invoices the only answer was “the staff”.

The State Health Department disapproved the site at that time and from time to time has issued eleven letters disapproving the site, which includes nine homes that will need to be condemned and the families relocated.

Some objections to the site are:

Better water is available in upper Lake Hamilton and land is available at the existing location.

Within a two mile buffer zone, there are four sewer grinding and pumping stations above the site without emergency (backup) power (if power failed, raw sewage could be pumped directly into the lake) and twenty four septic systems are above the site within the buffer zone. It was noted that Lake Hamilton flows as a river from the upper lake to the lower lake. Plus, there is no information regarding maintenance and operation costs, though it was acknowledged operating costs will be greater due to location.

This project is purported to be a six hundred million dollar project. The residents of Diamondhead need to be educated and involved. We may live in the County but we use city water and we are helping paying for this debacle.

I found out today, the city directors have discontinued payments to Jacobs Engineering.

This should be a concern as it effects us all.

Jerry McAnear, Sr.