Lots of Ellinger Sewer & Water Customers Not Paying Bills
The Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle fire at a residence on 955 near Ellinger on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 4:38 p.m. Two fire trucks went in route to extinguish the fire.
The Ellinger VFD responded to a grass fire on the Banks Ranch east of Ellinger, and was called to assist La Grange VFD with a grass fire on Saturday, Jan. 15, but was called back when the fire was found under control and slowed by the train tracks near Hattermann Lane.
Plentiful rainfall in the spring and summer left tall grass and underbrush; the freezing temperatures have left all the grass dry and perfect for fire. Please be careful when burning, driving over tall grasses, and flicking out cigarettes.
Colorado County has had several large grass fires this week also requiring multiples fire departments to extinguish the blazes and protect property.
Candidate Forum
There will be a candidate forum on Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Ellinger Community Center from 5 p.m. until about 9 p.m. All candidates running for Fayette County Judge and Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 will be there to speak and answer questions. All are welcome. For more information contact Tom Kubena.
Fayetteville Brethren Church
Fayetteville Brethren Church has services the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10 a.m. Other services are at Industry Brethren on the second, third and fourth Saturdays at 5 p.m., Wesley Brethren on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Nelsonville Brethren on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. Rev. Mike Groseclose leads all the services. The Nelsonville service is live streamed on Nelsonville Brethren’s Facebook page.
Ellinger Sewer and Water
The Ellinger Sewer and Water Supply Corporation held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 10 at the Ellinger Fire Station. Greg Hunger, president, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with six directors in attendance. Hunger noted that Corporation members were calling him in regards to not receiving their water bills on or near the first of the month. Several members present noted that they had gotten the invoices on the tenth. The board reviewed and approved the minutes from the December meeting.
Cierra Craig of Inframark presented the manager’s report. She noted that Inframark crews have been conducting a meter audit in the Ellinger area, and have been removing meters at vacant properties. Crews with marked trucks and appropriate credentials are conducting the audit/removal so that residents will know who is walking on their property. Her report noted that operational expenses totaled $3,733.24 for the month. Inframark operated the EWS facilities, performed maintenance, coordinated with contractors, and provided regulatory compliance service for December 2021. The Board approved the report.
Under old business the board once again discussed nonpayment and late fees. Approximately one fourth of the membership is currently in the arrears. Late fees and disconnections will go into effect in January. The board did motion to approve a payment plan for customers requesting one. According to the installment plan late fees will stop and customers will have four months to pay their late bills. The current invoice or bill must be paid in full along with the late payment.
The water conservation plan was approved as presented by Weishuhn Engineering. Members should receive more information on this plan soon; the plan will include a Master Gardeners Plan like Fayette County has approved. The engineer’s report included an update on the Ground Storage Project noting that the Categorical Exclusion passed the TWDB review and the project has passed the administrative review for bidding. They are still waiting on the Technical Review and Final approval. The project cannot be bid until approval is given.
Additionally TWDB approved the $1,128,000 financing package for the storage tank project. Weishuhn Engineering concurs with the closing date of March 15. Another round of pilot testing using aluminum chlorohydrate to verify removal efficiency and dose will occur during February 2022 and the firm will begin the design phase during March 2022. Additionally, Weishuhn Engineering has received a copy of the Feasibility Study completed by BEFCO on the Hruska’s Store expansion. Weishuhn Engineering generally agrees with the BEFCO report noting that there would be adequate capacity for water with this five-fold increase, but the wastewater will be greater than 75% of the permit capacity threshold and would require permitting and expansion of the sewer plant.
The Board will be meeting with BEFCO and Jeffrey James to work out details before making a final decision. Next the Board discussed the annual meeting and election of directors. The annual meeting is slated for February 17, 2022, but may be delayed. There are two director positions up for election for three year terms: Curtis Zwahr and Paula Urban. The Board appointed Zwahr to finish out Randy Robertson’s term and Urban was appointed to finish out Ruth Horndt’s term. Walter Reynolds who the Board appointed to finish out Laura Brugger’s term will also be on the ballot to serve out one more year of Brugger’s term. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 14, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the Ellinger Fire Station.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday wishes to the following January celebrants: Ben Worrell, and Taylor Dominguez-24; Carley Fritsch Aten and Ray Stepan-31.
Have News?
If you have news for the correspondent you may email her at bartoshcarolyn@gmail. com or call (979) 966-3275. You may also drop off news at her residence; mailbox on the front porch. Please get her your information by noon on Mondays.