Clark takes over as mayor; Dawson, Clontz join council

Pulaski’s Town Council had a different look Tuesday for its first meeting of the 2018-19 fiscal year.

Newly-elected Mayor David Clark was at the helm for the first time since winning election in May unopposed. He replaces Nick Glenn who did not seek re-election.

Also new to council are Brooks Dawson and Tyler Clontz who replaced Clark on council as well as H.M. Kidd.

At the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, council re-elected Greg East for another term as Vice Mayor.

In other news:

Paving

Town Manager Shawn Utt reported paving is underway in the town again. He said paving in the Wilson Avenue – Northwood areas is underway following water line replacement work.  Paving is also planned for Dora Highway, the English Forest – Grove Drive area and some other minor patching throughout town to finish up the paving season.

Fire Trucks

Utt said the town anticipates its new fire truck to arrive in the next couple of months.

Also, he anticipates the town applying once again for a ladder truck, however, Utt noted there is a potential opportunity to work out something with the Town of Blacksburg.

Utt said Blacksburg is looking to replace their ladder truck, which he said is still in good condition, with a newer truck due to all the buildings at Virginia Tech. Utt said Pulaski only has about a half-dozen buildings that would require a ladder truck.

“Maybe we can get a used truck that’s just about as good as a new one,” Utt said.

Brookmont Water

Council approved unanimously one of two loan options to deal with the Brookmont HAA5 water project.

The town will borrow $1,284,490 at 2.5 percent over 20 years, plus receive a $300,000 grant to fund the project.

According to Utt, the town is experiencing issues in portions of its water system with water age, and the proposed project was designed to correct the issues in the town’s system as well as the county PSA’s water system that serves the Brookmont community. The town supplies the water to that system, but the county PSA owns and operates it.

The project involves upgrades to the water filtration plant, some reconfiguration and connection of two of the town’s pressure zones, elimination of the water storage tanks to make them “first in – first out” tanks.

Utt explained that when the water system in the area was designed, the thought was to put tanks everywhere to ensure enough water flow in case of fires. The concern now, he said, is you have water sitting too long, which isn’t a good thing either.

The proposed project would eliminate one water tank and eliminate the time issue with water sitting from 30 days to something less than seven days.

Utt said the tank being eliminated would have been the next one the town would have had to replace.

Councilman Joseph Goodman asked Fire Chief Robbie Kiser about the elimination of a water tank that previously had been seen as being needed to ensure proper fire flow.

“Can our fire trucks take water out of the creek if there isn’t enough pressure in the system,” Goodman asked. Kiser said they can and noted that neighboring fire departments have tankers and can help if needed. Being down one tank wouldn’t be a problem, he said.

Servicing the loan debt would raise water bills for the average household by less than a dollar.

By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot