Bethany Council Receives Water Purchase Request From Harrison County RWD #2 During Session

Representatives of the Harrison County Rural Water District #2 met with Bethany’s Board of Aldermen regarding a potential treated water purchase by the Water District from the City of Bethany for a 90-day period beginning in April so that the district can maintain service to their customers and allow the district to drill more wells to keep up with their customers’ demand. The council session followed a meeting held in February between city officials and the rural water district. The district wants to purchase 100,000 gallons of water per day in April, May, and June. PeopleService representative George Hulett told council members at the session that the city’s treatment system could handle the extra load. It would require the plant to run two hours longer than it does currently to handle the plant’s extra demand. The city has set a cost of 1.3 cents per 1,000 gallons. City manager Jake Taylor says that calculation has been determined to be the cost for the city to treat the water. That rate has been recently approved as a water price for anyone that uses 10,000 gallons or more of water with sewer. Water district representatives stated they had previously purchased water from the city, at a lower volume, of .896 cents per gallon. Water district representatives stated that the city’s proposed rate would result in the district losing an estimated $200 per day. The city says the price offered will stay for now, but could be re-evaluated later. Water representatives stated they will need to take the .013 cent per gallon price back to the board for a decision.

Bethany’s council also discussed the replacement of the city’s Building Inspector at the session. The city plans to hire Jacob Denum to a full time position with the City of Bethany. He would remain as the half time Fire Chief and add the responsibilities of Building Inspector and Code Officer.

Council members approved the new ordinance which includes a Rental Unit Utility Form to be completed by an applicant for utilities which will call for certification of safety-related conditions on the non-owner occupied property to be signed by the tenant and the landlord. The Rental Unit Utility Form will not required of non-residential structures.

The Harrison County Community Hospital contractors expect to start their road extension project this week. The road is expected to be completed by the end of July, but may be contingent on weather conditions. Another two of three weeks would then be expected for the road connection to be completed. A water study completed in May of 2023 has also concluded that there will be no water drainage issues from the hospital at the new site for the hospital campus. That city has a copy of that water study.

The city decided not to accept the bid for a new transmission for the Fire Command Vehicle. That money will be applied towards the purchase of an alternative vehicle.

A bid for the purchase of 70 electric meters was approved for just under $8,000 from Core and Main.