Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two articles covering the Nov. 13, meeting of the Matewan Town Council.)

MATEWAN — The Matewan Town Council met Nov. 13 and discussed multiple topics.

The council heard an update from Veolia Water’s Tim Collins about the town’s lingering problem with water loss. Fortunately for the council, Collins had good news, reporting that the water loss had gone down by about 16,000 gallons per day. The decrease was attributed to preventative maintenance.

Afterwards, two men with Dun Engineers, Inc., F. Wayne Hypes, president, and Marshall K. Snedegar, spoke to the council to inform them that their company existed.

“We want to let you know that we are available and would be like to be apart of your projects,” Snedegar told the council.

Hypes said that his company had been doing working with water and sewer for 37 years and that it could help the town’s water loss issue. He asked Collins how much the town averaged in lost gallons each month, to which Collins answered with seven million to eight million. Hypes said that the Public Service Commission allowed for no more than 15 percent, while Matewan was around 60 percent.

However, Councilman Steven Fullen asked for a consulting price first, saying that while the town would like to do business with Dunn Engineering, the council should first find out if they could afford to do so. No action was taken, but Hypes and Snedegar told the council they would be in touch.

Next, Patrick Rawlings, senior designer with Triad Engineering, updated the council on the Thacker Water Project. He said that there were a few issues still with the project, such as missing easements and the railroad permits. While the permits had already been obtained, the cost to implement them would be approximately $8,100. Rawlings said that he would “like to wait until bidding to see where the money is.”

He also mentioned that if the easements weren’t gotten that potentially seven more condemnations would have to be handled. Lastly, he said that he hoped to get the project back from the PSC before the end of 2012 and that the project could go to bid in 2013.

To finish up the meeting, the council discussed the town’s exchange of properties with the Mingo County Board of Education. In exchange for the pool, the town would receive an easement for the parking lot at the Matewan High School football field, the baseball/softball field and the adjoining concession stand. While not in the initial trade, Mayor Sheila Kessler said that the town would also later obtain both the high school and Matewan Middle School once the students were moved.

The Matewan Town Council will next meet Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at town hall. The meeting is open to the public.