Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Whelen Springs hires inspector, water on Kansas Road in sight

The Whelen Springs water project on Kansas Road is setting meters and anticipates the 105 potential customers "to be using water from our system right after the plumbing inspection and the meter setting."

Whelen Springs Mayor Terry LeMay said Wednesday the project was delayed because the Arkansas Health Department had to do a general approval of the water lines in regard to yielding safe and healthy water.

"As of Friday, Jan. 27, the health department has signed off approval on 95 percent of our water lines down Kansas Road," LeMay said.

"They have a few issues in the Twin Bridges area, on those lines being attached to the bridges, but we can solve those concerns and proceed."

The Arkansas Health Department also requires an on-site inspection of the lines at each property before meter installation and water consumption.

LeMay hired Prescott City Manager Perry Nelson to inspect the water line on each property for a fee of $20 per water user.

"As soon as they pay the fee and pass the inspection, Nelson will go ahead and install the meter for water usage. This way Gurdon does not have to worry about physically hooking us up," Mayor LeMay said.

Before water usage

Mayor LeMay sent an information letter to the customers that specifies what the law requires before the water is turned on.

He told them in the letter, "All of the new water lines have been flushed, pressure tested and sterilized. Bacterial samples have been collected, submitted to the Arkansas Health Department and approved.

"Before your water meter is installed, a plumbing inspection must be made of your system to insure there are no cross connections and that you have disconnected from your current supply."

Mayor LeMay said inspector Perry Nelson will work by appointment. The mayor will take calls for individual inspections at: (870) 353-6301.

"When you pass, your meter will be installed and monthly billings will begin. If you do not connect by March 31, you will be sent a minimum usage bill beginning with the April billing cycle," Mayor LeMay said.

Fee update

LeMay said further calculations of a base water user fee estimate, for the 105 new water customers on Kansas Road, has resulted in good news. Instead of the originally estimated $30 a customer, Mayor LeMay said the base will be closer to $24.

LeMay said workmanship for the water line is guaranteed for the first year of operation by the installing company, Kajack Construction, of Missouri.

He said Kajack installed the lines and put the water in the lines and the tank on Pig Loop.

"Gurdon told us they would negotiate down on their monthly fee to Whelen if we could show how our loans would be paid," LeMay said. "We have received clearance from our loan sources on an approved payment plan for Whelen Springs to finance this new water line system. And to make the payments, we will need between $24 and $25 a monthly base fee.

"Right now we are having a communication problem between the tank on Kansas Road (Pig Loop) and the water tank at Whelen Springs. The Kansas Road tank was installed and put in operation by All State Tank."

Mayor LeMay said the telephone line automation communication between the two water tanks is designed to let one tank know the other ones level so the water can be maintained at a safe amount in both tanks.

"We are going to install a solar panel for $15,000 to boost the communication line voltage between these two tanks," LeMay said. "We will do this very shortly, as we all want this water working as soon as possible."