Although three counties surrounding Madison have placed mandatory water restrictions on customers, those who receive their water from Richmond Utilities have not yet reached that point, Richmond Utilities Board members said Wednesday.
That is not to say Richmond customers should not be conserving water, however, or that possible mandatory restrictions will not be coming soon. With clear skies forecast for days to come, the longer the area goes without rain, the more mandatory restrictions will become likely. Board members discussed the city’s water situation during a regular meeting Wednesday and determined only voluntary water restrictions are necessary at this point.
“We haven’t had any measurable rain in the last two weeks,” said Richmond Utilities Superintendent Scott Althauser. “And we had very little before that.”
The pool Richmond Utilities pulls its water from at the Kentucky River has maintained an adequate level, until recently, Althauser said. At the beginning of August, the discharge of water to the dam was flowing at 2,000 cubic feet per second, an average level, Althauser said. Today, the discharge level was flowing at 108 cubic feet per second.
“There has been a dramatic reduction,” said Wade Johnson, a Richmond Utilities engineer.
But it is not just the lack of rain causing the drought conditions, Althauser said. High temperatures continue to cause what little moisture there is to evaporate and dry out the region. Also, with both Eastern Kentucky University and the county schools back in session, water usage has increased.
A new water plant in the College Hill Road area will help treat more water when it is completed soon, but work to reach the 12-million-gallon treatment goal still is under way. While the new plant won’t help this season, if drought conditions become a problem next summer, the city will be better prepared.
Board members approved a raw water intake contract Wednesday that will help to reach that goal. The new plant also will play a role in supplying water to new growth in the city, Althauser said.
For now, good common sense and voluntary actions will help to get through the remainder of the dry season. Althauser is hoping the city utilities will not have to mandate water restrictions.
“Hopefully we will have a much wetter September and October,” Althauser said. “It was July 2005 when we went to (mandatory restrictions) here and we are almost in September. We are over the hump.”
If customers do find it necessary to water outside, Althauser said a good rule of thumb to follow is to water on even numbered days if your address is an even number, and odd numbered days for odd number addresses.
In other business Wednesday, the board:
• Lowered the natural gas rate by 5.56 percent beginning on bills mailed after Aug. 1.
• Tabled an ordinance charging a flat rate for gas service and transportation. Board members are considering assessing a $10 rate each month during summer months when many customers turn off their gas, but the city utilities still are working to read and monitor gas meters and transport gas to homes. The item was tabled until more research can be completed.
• Passed an ordinance to extend water and sewer outside the city limits to those county residences whose personal property would be utilized to run water and sewer lines to the new sewer plant in exchange for easements.
Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.
Local News
Richmond water restrictions still voluntary
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Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
US 25 business owners scared of five-lane plan
Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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