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Harpers Ferry approves $862,741 in water-project payments; crews report boil-water notice after main work
Summary
The Town Council approved a WDA-related payment package for the ongoing water distribution project and heard from staff that a planned main tie-in led to a temporary shutoff and a townwide boil-water notice while test results are pending.
Harpers Ferry Town Council on May 12 approved a resolution authorizing payment of $862,741.09 for invoices tied to the town's water distribution project and heard from town staff that a planned main tie-in caused a temporary shutoff and a precautionary boil-water notice while lab test results are awaited.
The payments approved under "Resolution number 7" drew on multiple sources, council documents show: $24,497.29 from CND funds and $838,543.80 from a WDA-related grant fund for a combined total of $862,741.09. The motion to approve was adopted unanimously, 6-0.
Council member Roberta pressed staff for supporting documentation before the vote, noting she had expected clearer evidence of the project's percent-complete status. Roberta said, "I'm point. That we're at 50% of the project, and that's fabulous, because the project's moving quite quickly." Town staff pointed to engineer-signed applications and stated the amounts fit the project's contract and budget.
Public works staff later described operations that accompanied a planned main extension near Columbia and Washington streets. Steve (staff member) said crews extended a 10-inch main and then flushed lines; because alternate small mains did not provide the expected flow to some streets, several areas experienced no flow and the town issued a boil-water notice. "Everybody's in a boil water notice," Steve said. He told council samples were drawn and delivered to the lab and that results were expected the next day or Wednesday, at which point the boil-water requirement could be lifted if tests clear.
Council and staff also discussed project tempo and documentation. The council record indicates the engineer and a reviewing agency compiled and approved the payment application; staff said the project is progressing rapidly and that past payments represented an interim percent of the overall contract.
Separately, the council received an update on metering technology and operations: staff reported a new electromagnetic meter installed at a large connection had been calibrated and that vendor data suggested the newer meter captured 10% to 15% more billable flow in certain usage bands compared with older meters. Staff said the manufacturer estimated a roughly four-year payback for replacing aging meters with the new technology. The water superintendent also said GPS tracking has been implemented on departmental vehicles and that the mayor and staff will review the first round of data to develop related policy.
Discussion vs. decision: the payment authorization was a formal council action (motion approved 6-0). Other items discussed'including the boil-water notice, meter-testing results and vehicle GPS tracking'were informational and flagged for follow-up. Staff repeatedly noted that samples and laboratory confirmation, not council action, would determine the timing for lifting the boil-water notice.
Looking ahead, staff said remaining project tie-ins and planned work (Church Street and other segments) will proceed with attempts to isolate impacts and coordinate with weather and contractors; council members requested ongoing documentation of percent-complete figures and invoices supporting future payment requests.
