Pre-Council Briefing
Minutes
October 30, 2007
Present: Mayor Jim Wetherington and Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh.
Councilors Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr.,
Charles McDaniel, and Evelyn Woodson were present. Also present were City
Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny
Washington and Recording Secretary Tameka Colbert.
Absent: Councilor Gary Allen.
Guests: Executive Vice President of Columbus Water Works Bob Tant
Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza level of the
Government Center.
Meeting began at 8:20 a.m.
Columbus State Water Plan/Ban:
City Manager Hugley informed the Council that the Columbus Water Works would be
coming forth to share issues concerning the water ban.
Mr. Bob Tant advised the Council that the state water plan is currently under
development, and the EPD is proposing thousands of changes to the plan. He
advised the Council that the Columbus Water Works contributed numerous comments
and opinions to the EPD concerning the water plan. Mr. Tant said it is
anticipated that the plan would require a large number of lengthy and expensive
studies, and said the whole state water plan would require a significant
funding of $10,000,000 a year for the next 3-5 years.
Mr. Tant pointed out several major topics that the current plan does not
address:
How planning is to be done in areas where a major part of our water shed is in
another state
Issues involving federal government control of water resources
Navigation, hydropower or flood control
Councilor Anthony asked Mr. Tant if he could comment on the aquifer system vs.
river system and the issue of septic tanks and the water getting back in the
aquifer system vs. the river. Mr. Tant said he does not have a full
understanding of the relationship between aquifers and surface waters, but can
say that the Water Works objects to usage of septic tanks in the metro area
because it is a cheap development tool. He explained that septic tanks are
consumptive users, meaning the water goes back into the ground and not returned
to the river.
Mayor Pro Tem Pugh asked Mr. Tant what impact does the current water plan have
on new development as it relates to watering trees and grass. Mr. Tant said the
plan does not address development, which is one of the problems. He said the
State does not believe they have a voice in where someone builds.
Councilor McDaniel said he feels as if the Water Board should be requesting the
ordinance and said he is not going to vote for the ordinance.
Councilor Anthony then asked Mr. Tant to explain to persons why watering lawns
would be problematic? Mr. Tant explained that watering lawns is a consumptive
use; water does not go back into the river system, therefore it is banned
because it is deemed to have significant impact on total water usage within the
community.
Note: Councilor Mimi Woodson arrived at 8:28 a.m. Councilor Henderson arrived
at 8:36 a.m. Councilor Hunter arrived at 8:44 a.m.
Councilor Davis asked Mr. Tant had the Columbus Water Works come across any
violators. Mr. Tant said yes, there are people that did not know there was a
total watering ban. He said there is a continual education process that goes
on but there are violators, fortunately there have not been many. Mr. Tant
said in the month of October there were 61 complaints out of 65,000 accounts.
He said Columbus Water Works has a process where they warn customers. He said
eventually if it becomes an issue, their water can be disconnected but the
Columbus Water Works does not issue fines.
Councilor Davis said being under water restrictions, would Columbus Water Works
look at how water is distributed to out lying areas? Mr. Tant said Columbus
does not have a drinking water problem the real problem is wastewater
simulation, which takes a lot more water coming down the river.
Mayor Pro Tem said as it relates to the proposed ordinance, is there any kind
of permitting being done or considered for those individuals who have new homes
and need to water their grass. Mr. Tant said there are exceptions for freshly
sodden lawns that allow individuals to water their grass until the lawn gets
established but there are no special permits.
In conclusion Mr. Tant read from his prepared statement titled ?Water Wars and
Drought: A Water Works Perspective?. (A copy was filed here in the office and
attached for the records).
Meeting adjourned at 9:02 A.M.
_____________________
Tameka Colbert
Administrative Specialist II
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