Troy commissioners approve contract for water line mapping ♥

As published in the Courier-Tribune on September 18, 2011

by Hugh Martin

TROY – The Board of Commissioners of the Town of Troy met for their regular meeting September 12, during which a $20,000.00 contract with the Withers & Ravenel engineering firm was approved. The contract calls for GIS mapping of the town’s water system.

“We have over twenty-nine miles of water lines in the Town of Troy,” said Greg Zephir, Town Manager. “With the retirements of some town employees it is becoming more difficult for workers to know where everything is located.”

Zephir said that, while $20,000.00 may seem expensive, the cost for each point in the system that will have to be mapped comes to only $15.00 each.

“After the mapping is complete employees can use a tablet computer anywhere in town to find the nearest shutoff valve,” Zephir said. “It will be more convenient for citizens of the town. If there’s a water leak on the east side of town why should the water on the west side of town be shut off too?”

Commissioners also passed an ordinance amendment concerning peddlers, vendors and contractors. The amendment is aimed at “peddlers, solicitors, transient vendors or contractors for pruning or removal of trees and shrubs.”

Zephir reported that there was a problem with transient vendors coming into town and cutting trees, particularly for senior citizens, and leaving a large mess for the town to deal with.

The ordinance will require anyone engaging in that type of business to register with the town and acquire all the proper permits.

In other recent business, Zephir reported:

• The town has been awarded $620,000.00 to increase the sewer capacity at the business center;

• Department of Insurance grant funds are being used to purchase pagers for the fire department;

• The town is working on a modification of a 1997 agreement with Montgomery County to allow one entity to do water sampling;

• Town staff is working on preparations for the Small Town USA Celebration, to be held October 22;

• Members of the promotions committee are working to host the Arts and Antiques in Autumn event