Wingate hears park fundraising update, pavilion planning and water-tower maintenance; town seeks grant support

At the July 9 meeting the Wingate Town Council received updates on park fundraising and upcoming park improvements and heard a water-utility operations briefing from UMAC.

Park Advisory Board member Mark Fruits told the council the Montgomery County Community Foundation has collected $68,201.75 for the Park Improvement Fund. Fruits described plans for a 3-D diagram of the park and a new pavilion to be constructed using a Readi 180 grant; the council asked that the next meeting include a presentation of the 3-D model and agreed to post notice of that schedule. The clerk's office (Janet Alexander and Suzy Bass) also requested letters from board members and residents documenting the town's water/wastewater/stormwater issues to support an application to OCRA, the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Troy Elless of UMAC reported the water tower waxing and cleaning are complete and contractors found the tower structurally sound. Elless said that because the tank has been cleaned the town may be able to reduce the amount of chlorine used to treat water; he added the next major service is expected in five years and that the tank lining must be epoxy. He also warned the council that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing rules on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often called 'forever chemicals') and that the town should expect to hear more about proposed rules in 2025.

Council members directed Curt Hadley to continue working with a landowner to resolve missing documentation for a water-well lease/easement and asked for the park pavilion 3-D presentation at the next meeting. No formal votes were taken on the pavilion design or water-system capital work at this meeting.