Last year during an ice storm, the Town of Hennessey had to rent a generator for one of the water wells when the electricity went out so customers would have continuous water service.

The board voted this year to buy and install a 27 KW three-phase propane general generator at well 7.

Board members accepted a $22,805.77 bid from Farmers Electric at their Wednesday, Dec. 8, meeting.

“That doesn’t include a propane tank or a fuel line to run from the tank to the generator,” Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told the board but said, “We’ll get one from Jimmy.”

Swimming Pool Groundwater Issue

Tillman told the board that groundwater from the swimming pool on Mitchell Road isn’t draining because the culvert next to the Early Childhood Center and elementary school culverts are too high.

“Yes, that’s the school’s property, but it’s our water,” she said, and they are working to solve the problem.

Storm Water Drainage Project

Tillman said the engineer is working on plans for Phase II of the storm water drainage and the CDBG grant is due in March.

“We will have to go out for bids,” she said.

That project is to correct drainage issues on 3rd, 4th and 5th streets west of Mitchell Road.

Other Utility Issues

Tillman’s written report to the board commented on these issues:

Waterline leak – Leak on Cemetery Road was a “sixinch line that had a ‘T’ in it branching off to a two-inch line that went nowhere. The ‘T’ had cracked,” she wrote. “The water crew tried to isolate it to prevent shutting off the water in town with no success,” so the water was shut off one afternoon until it was repaired.

Water/sewer lines in Osborn Addition – DEQ approved the project, and the town’s engineer will prepare the project for bid.

Waterline installations – Six-inch waterline is installed on both South Cimarron and West 6th streets. Work continues on individual water taps for homes, and are to be completed by Jan. 16.

Traffic light repairs – Controller ($2,860) had to be replaced. Traffic going east and west should work better now.

At the Meeting

All four board members were present: Mayor Bert Gritz, Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Trustees Richard Simunek and Harold Shaw. A fifth board member to replace Keith Meek, who resigned Aug. 30, will be elected Feb. 8.

Staff at the meeting were Tillman; Town Clerk Kati Walters; Treasurer Shelley Burch; Police Chief Ed Cangiano, and Assistant Fire Chief James Matousek.

In the audience was David O. Jones, town board candidate. Tillman said the other candidate, Frank Patton, called and said he couldn’t make the Wednesday meeting that had originally been set for Thursday night.

(Note: See story elsewhere on employee issues.)