Chula staff report meter repair, then board approves $130 Diamond Maps subscription

At the Feb. 2 meeting, staff reported on recent water-system maintenance and roadwork needs and the Chula Board of Aldermen approved a subscription to a mapping service to document water lines, hydrants and meters.

Staff member Fred Oertwig said one water meter needed repair but there were no sewer problems and that meters had been read that day. He said the town needs rock from the township to grade and crown roads, and recommended spraying roads annually to reduce dust before bonding rock.

Staff member Adam Cooksey reported finding a blown breaker in a control box and said he would look into a non-compliance letter and coordinate roof-hatch repairs when repair crews inspect a tank. Cooksey said he needed to know valve locations and recommended mapping the system; he suggested two tools discussed during the meeting: a Diamond Maps subscription (identified cost: $130 per year) and a magnetic wand (approximately $1,000) to locate heavy cast meters and manholes. "Suggested putting a gallon of Dawn dish soap in pit every month to break down sludge," Cooksey said as a maintenance idea.

Alderman Geremy Bru moved to purchase the Diamond Maps subscription; Alderman Benny Simpson seconded. The motion passed "all in favor - 3-0." The board did not record a timetable for mapping or designate a specific staff lead in the available transcript; staff said they would map lines and determine valve locations.

Next steps recorded in the meeting record include staff follow-up to map infrastructure and coordinate repair inspections; the transcript ends before an implementation schedule or funding allocation beyond the subscription cost was listed.