Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Village's water system damaged

T.S. Last El Defensor Chieftain General Manager, tslast@dchieftain.com

TSLAST Village officials are seeking emergency money after Magdalena's telemetry system — which automates the village's water system — was struck by lightning two weeks ago.

Mayor Jim Wolfe told the village board of trustees at its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, that the telemetry system was knocked out of service after receiving a direct hit by a lighting strike.

The telemetry system controls the well pump and a booster pump that fills the water tank at the top of the hill. While the pumps still work, they have to be turned on and off manually, which causes public works personnel to come into work at odd hours and accumulate overtime.

Wolfe said he's talked to the contractor that installed the system and maintained it, and was told the 13-year-old system was already antiquated. He said representatives of the contractor, Yukon and Associates, told him that some parts could not be replaced and estimated it would cost in the neighborhood of $30,000 to put in a new system.

"We don't have that kind of money lying around," said Wolfe, who added that he was looking into whether the village could apply for emergency funding from the state.

A possible alternative approach, the mayor said, would be to see if the village could tap into a $50,000 capital outlay grant earmarked for a second well to serve the village. He said a need for a second well has already been determined, and it would be good to have a backup system in place for just such emergencies.

Rita Broaddus, the village's clerk-treasurer, said she's also made inquires as to how much of the loss would be covered by insurance.

"We're looking at all avenues," she said.

Broaddus said insurance could cover between $7,000 and $9,000 of the loss.

Trustee Dolly Dawson was ready to have administration proceed.

"We need to get it fixed," she said.

Wolfe said no action by the board was necessary at this time, but the matter could be brought before the board again, depending on if emergency funds could be secured.

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