Council hears resident complaints about low water pressure; engineering firm says capital facilities plans coming, council proposes new infrastructure committee

A resident told the Hideout Town Council on July 10 that units at the top of North Shoreline Court are getting water pressures near the minimum required for showers and asked the town to fund a new pressure‑reducing valve (PRV).

The resident, Brian Cooper, said when the subdivision was built about six years ago pressures at the lowest measurement point were only just above 40 pounds per square inch and that occupants at the upper floors felt pressures drop to about 30–31 PSI at showerheads when appliances ran. “If you turn on a dishwasher or your washing machine, for sure, your shower turns off,” Cooper said.

The council’s technical advisor, Gordon (last name given in meeting transcript), told the council that Hansen, Allen and Loos is under contract to produce capital facilities plans (CFPs) for the drinking‑water, sewer and storm‑drain systems and that the CFPs will list projects and priorities. “The tool is that capital facilities plan, and that’s what we’re about to give you,” Gordon said. He told the council the storm‑drain team was close to turning its draft into a report, the sewer CFP might be a month out, and the drinking‑water CFP is paused pending a town decision about a level‑of‑service audit.

Councilmembers suggested creating a standing or steering committee to act as an intake and prioritization body for infrastructure requests raised by residents and staff. Councilmember Chris (transcript identifies Chris as a council member) proposed a “community infrastructure and building advocacy” committee that would collect complaints and candidate projects, work with town engineering and building‑permit staff to make initial technical assessments, and bring recommended priorities to the mayor and council. Chris nominated Cooper to be a member and suggested including Gordon and the building‑department permit official on the committee.

Cooper asked the council to add the PRV project to the capital budget; he said PRVs can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Gordon said the CFP will identify PRV locations and priorities and show the estimated scope, and the council would have latitude to adjust the adopted list when it is presented. Gordon did not give a firm completion date for the drinking‑water CFP, saying it is on hold while the town resolves level‑of‑service questions; the storm‑drain CFP was described as probably a month away.

Council members also discussed hydrant flow testing frequency; Cooper said his neighborhood’s last hydrant test may have been six years ago and urged the town to prioritize hydrant testing at higher elevations. Gordon said hydrant and flow testing schedules are part of the CFP work and that the town should use the CFPs to set phased implementation and budgeting.

The council asked staff to bring a short briefing on the status and near‑term schedule for the three CFP documents to the August meeting and to return a proposal for the committee structure so the council can consider formalizing it.

Ending: The council did not adopt a budget item at the July 10 meeting; instead it directed staff to present the CFP deliverables and a committee charter and budget recommendation at the August meeting so the council can decide whether to fund the recommended PRV and other early priorities.