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Town council authorizes $17,600 requisition as town fights multiweek water shortages
Summary
Town leaders said the town has entered a third week of tank and supply problems, authorized the mayor to sign a $17,600 requisition to an engineer, and set up water distribution (two cases per car) at the recreation center while larger repairs undergo grant review.
The town council convened in February 2026 and was told the town is entering a third week of limited water service as tank and line problems persist. During the meeting the council authorized the mayor to sign a $17,600 requisition to an engineer to advance work on the system and announced water distribution for affected residents.
Council members described repeated pump cycles and low tank levels, with one tank reported at about 31 feet. A presenter said the water line replacement and tank rehabilitation (phase 2) has been submitted to 'ARC' for $1,300,000 and is currently under review; the project was noted as ranked by 'KID' in internal rankings (both acronyms and their roles were not expanded in the discussion). Contractors working on an infiltration project paused operations this week and last; speakers said municipal supply water would be required to jet and CCTV the lines so the contractors can continue their assessment.
Unidentified Speaker 1, identified in the meeting as the mayor, asked the council to approve a mayoral signature on the monthly requisition for $17,600 to 'Ned's engineer.' The mayor said, "I'll do that now." The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The mayor publicly thanked water and sewer staff for extended shifts during the cold weather, saying staff had worked long hours to keep service running. "We thank our water employees who have been out literally day and night in this horrendous weather," the mayor said.
Officials announced that water would be available at the recreation center beginning the next morning, with a limit of two cases per car for residents under the water advisory. The council said Letcher County and local partners would help supply bottled water; Brandon Fleming at 'Canyon Kitchen' was cited as a contact assisting with supplies.
School officials were reported to be accommodating schedule changes: the mayor said she had spoken with Denise Shunt, the superintendent, and that scheduled basketball tournaments had been moved to accommodate conservation efforts and student safety.
What happens next: the larger tank and line work is under administrative review for the $1.3 million submission; in the short term the council authorized the $17,600 requisition to progress the necessary engineering work and set up temporary distribution measures for residents.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 100; topfinish SEG 277.
