The Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen recently held their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss city business.
Rural fire protection agreements between the Mendenhall Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Mendenhall and Town of D’Lo were approved.
The Mendenhall Fire Department was approved to apply for the AFG FEMA Grant. The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.
Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
The department was awarded the grant last year, and the funds were used to upgrade their cascade system and purchase new SCBA equipment. If awarded this year, the grant will be used to purchase new turnouts for the department.
The board approved the route for the former industrial park water tank connection to the city’s water system. The current plan is for the connection to run along Highway 13 and connect at the top of Pine Lane and Main Street.
Mayor Todd Booth explained that this was the optimal route available to the city at the time. He provided engineering research that showed the tower would maintain 12.9psi if every faucet in the city was turned on by connecting through this route. He said that the approved route is also the most cost effective, saving the city approximately $200,000 compared to the original connection plan.
The new water tower on Highway 43 has passed all inspections and is completely operational with a new water pump. Funds have been acquired to help with tying the tower into the city’s system.
With the connection route approved, the city will move forward and continue to monitor the cost of materials. Once connected, customers on South Main Street and neighboring areas should benefit from increased water pressure and from improvements to the sewer system that the additional tank provides.
The tower will assist approximately 250 customers in Mendenhall with water pressure, give the city an additional well, assist the Mendenhall Fire Department in maintaining the current fire rating and enhance the city’s possibility for growth. Booth said steady progress is being made on the project, but completion is still months away.
The Board unanimously voted to allow the city clerk and purchasing clerk to become notaries and offer the service to the public. The board approved the payment of the remaining balance of a liability claim of $420 filed by business owner Ed White after a city garbage truck accidentally damaged the roof of his building.
After reviewing financials and approving zoning minutes the board entered executive session to discuss personnel issues.
