STARKVILLE — Roughly halfway through his public appearance at the Starkville Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, Hotel Chester owner David Mollendor removed nine sealed cups of brown water, some as dark as plain coffee.
The samples, what Mollendor called “unusable and turbid” water, were taken from his hotel during each of the nine times he flushed his system since August. He asked the board that the city pay for the overages — which included cycling fresh water 98 hot-water heaters — he says were necessary to ensure customer satisfaction
“Customers expect to receive clean linen and usable Internet and take for granted that clean water is included,” Mollendor said.
The board, however, said it was hamstrung by state law that says no debts to a municipality will be forgiven. Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins said the board would set a dangerous precedent by adjusting Mullendor’s water and sewer bill — currently past due at more than $18,000 and due Friday, Mollendor said.
“It puts the city in a tough legal position when you make exceptions,” Perkins said. “Of course, there were brown water issues throughout the city. The city gave notice as it arose. If we gave some type of relief to this business owner, we would have to likewise treat others who are similarly situated.”
The city could seek a waiver with the state to offer relief, City Attorney Chris Latimer said, so long as the customer has had “unforeseen circumstances” happen or if the customer has not received the full benefit of service.
“It’s naive to say it’s safe at the recipient’s end with the turbidity of the water,” Mollendor said. “If you look at it, there’s particulate matter in there.”
The city has dealt with brown water in multiple wards since the summer, when the state began requiring water suppliers to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act of 2006. The city raised its levels of chlorine mandated by the Mississippi Department of Health. The chlorine causes oxidation of iron deposits in the lining of pipes that turn the water brown. The city has previously stated that the water was safe to drink.
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said Public Services Director Doug Devlin has offered assurances that the problem is correctable and will research solutions from different parts of the country. Devlin will report his findings within the next month, Wiseman said.
City Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill said the only relief available is for the city to flush the main line to the area, which she said has been done for Mollendor and other residents who wanted to rid brown water.
Spruill said she hasn’t received similar complaints from other businesses.
“What’s the definition of usable?” said Mollendor. “My customers don’t have a choice of going to a neighbor’s house. This matter (rust caused by oxidation), if it’s released in pipes and ends up in hot water, it can provide a shield and nutrient for bacteria that’s not necessarily very helpful to people. Under certain heating conditions, these forms of bacteria can grow and intensify.”
Boil-water notices only go out when tap water isn’t drinkable. Since the brown water has been deemed safe, notices haven’t been sent.
The city hired Ronnie W. Betts, Jr. as a crew leader in the water department, as the first of what Wiseman said will be a “series” of new hires to work specifically at the issue.
In other news, the board held its first public hearing on allowing one-stage street construction for subdivision developers.
Numerous developers and engineers have asked the city to allow a one-phase pavement installation at the outset of construction, which would provide a more stable street to haul materials and ensure residents have complete streets while other houses are being built.
Currently, the city allows only a two-stage construction that allows the installation of the final layer of asphalt after 85 percent of housing construction is complete. The two-stage regulation ensures the city will inherit a street that hasn’t been heavily patched or repaired.
Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver was skeptical that the city would always inherit a stable and aesthetically pleasing street that’s been patched or resurfaced but was the only member of the board to voice a concern.
A second public hearing will be held before any action is taken.
n The board unanimously approved the calling for a public hearing to discuss form-based codes — building regulations that are based on physical form instead of use — at its next meeting on Nov. 15. The board will hear results for the Placemakers charrette team that visited Starkville earlier this year. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed Placemakers’ code suggestions in its last meeting.
n Jennifer Gregory, Vice President of Tourism at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, announced the city’s 16-foot pre-lit Christmas tree will be lit at 6 p.m. Sunday in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse on Main Street. From noon to 5 p.m. that day, downtown merchants will participate in Christmas Open House. Local choirs will perform and hot chocolate and cider will be provided.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
