A pair of water-related issues forced the Cordell Utility Authority Board of Trustees to spend up to $33,000 for repairs during a special meeting last week.
A leak in the East Hill Water tower and the ability to turn off the west water line are issues that have plagued the city recently.
The city had to call a special meeting because the projects cost more than the spending limit city administrators can approve, and the Utility Authority Board of Trustees had to OK the projects, city administrator J.C. Moser said.
The water tower on the East side of the city developed a leak in the bottom of the elevated tank after the recent cold weather.
“From the ground, it looked like a rust spot had broken through about the size of a garden hose,” Moser said.
The city will contract Superior Services and Supply for repairs. The bid came in at $9,500, but during the meeting, councilman Steve McLaughlin suggested the trustees approve $20,000 for repairs.
“This $9,500, if they find something else inside there, it could be more than that,” McLaughlin said.
He suggested the $20,000 so Moser and Jerry Beech had some wiggle room in case more repairs were needed and to stop the need to call another special meeting to approve more money on that project.
“If there’s one (leak) there, there’s going to be some more,” McLaughlin said. “If they’re in there already, let’s go ahead and fix it.”
The west water line in Cordell had two 4-inch valves freeze and break, and water was leaking, Moser said.
“We have no way to shut down the line and replace these valves so we need to have a valve inserted into the line,” Moser said.
Those valves are just flowing water out, Moser said.
The valve can stop the water flow, allowing crews to make repairs.
The city will contract with Southern Boyz Services for $13,000 to purchase and install the water control valve.