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A major water leak in Gainesboro will require emergency repairs after a two week search for the damage.
During Thursday’s Board of Alderman meeting, members approved the estimated $100,000 project. Water Department Worker John Pigg said burrowing equipment will be needed to repair the pipe that runs under state route 56.
“Roughly about 200 hundred dollars for the pipe and have it installed,” Pigg said. “A six inch pipe like that. It is roughly, if you go from the Old Field Drive side of it to the Rescue Squad area it is about 430 feet.”
Utility Supervisor Chester Hamlet said while searching for the source, another major pipe leak was found. Hamlet recommended to fix the highway 56 line first with serious water loss possible with a bust. Hamlet said both pipes are major contributors to over 100,000 gallons of water being lost daily.
“John would come out at 10 o’clock and shut them (Water) off,” Hamlet said. “I was up every morning at nine o’clock to turn it back on. That is how we have been operating.”
Mayor Lloyd Williams said the project’s price tag will be a financial hit. According to Williams, the water department accumulated about 80 hours of overtime to find the leak.
“We will check with MTAS tomorrow (Friday) to make sure we are doing it right,” Lloyd said. “And if we are, we can go ahead and do it. (…) If everything lines up with MTAS, you can go ahead and get me to sign it, and we can go ahead and do it.”
Hamlet said Kemp Brothers Construction will likely conduct the work.
In other business, Alderman Travis Agee gave an update on repairing a major pothole located near Walnut Street off North Grundy Quarles. Agee said after speaking with T-DOT, Gainesboro will be responsible for repairs.
Also in the meeting, Gainesboro Police Chief Micheal Head was reappointed as police chief. The Board of Alderman Thursday unanimously approved the two-year extension. Gainesboro’s City Recorder Brenda Spivey is leaving her position in March. Alderman Ricky Heady said the search for a replacement should start soon to allow adequate time for training.
