Daniel Prince
Town to install new electronic water meters
Lockhart Town Council met for a public hearing on its needs assessment list prior to its regular meeting Tuesday evening. Eleanor Mixon with Catawba Regional Council of Governments went over information on Community Development Block Grants for the coming year, including the types of projects for which the town could choose to apply for a grant, the minimum and maximum awards possible, and more. The town must update its needs assessment list each year to qualify for grant funding. The top item from last year’s list was to replace the water main on Summit Drive. The town received a grant for that last year, so that priority came off the list. Moving up to become the new #1 priority is to continue to upgrade the sewer system and lift stations. Upgrading storm drainage on Canal Road and throughout the town moved up to #2. Upgrading the 6” water lines in the back alley moved up to #3. Added to the list for the coming year is the wastewater treatment and possible package plant. Mayor Connie Porter informed council that the wastewater treatment facility was sold to another entity. The rates will stay the same for a year, and the following year the new company will decide what to do. Council unanimously approved the list, which features nine items in all, including promoting economic development through infrastructure improvements, providing affordable housing options for low-to-middle income and elderly citizens, rehabilitate or demolish substandard housing, recruit a grocery store, drug store, or another retail business, and promote fair housing opportunities for the citizens of Lockhart.
Mayor Porter informed council that new electronic water meters will be installed in the town. Town Clerk Shannon Perry said the work was supposed to begin last week but was delayed, so the work should begin in the next week or two. She said it could take 3-4 weeks to get everything installed. Reading the meters simply involves riding by the houses. One advantage to the new meters is that they will alert the town immediately to higher-than-normal water usage in a residence, so the town can then inform the homeowner of the potential problem, rather than having to wait for the meter to be read to know of high usage.
Mayor Porter said she will apply for a Community Development Block Grant to upgrade the lift station on South 7th Street. She said the town has spent thousands of dollars on repairs and service work. Porter also said the town has ordered new pumps for the lift station in No Man’s Land. She said currently, the town is renting pumps for $150 a week. She said because of that weekly charge, the town couldn’t afford to wait to see if they could get a grant for that work. She did not know when the pumps might be delivered.
With no other business to attend to, the meeting adjourned.