By Stephen Smoot
The Town of Franklin’s council meeting last week included multiple blessings, both personal and also potential.
First, Bob Horan, mayor, and fellow council members congratulated Keely Smith on the birth of her and her husband’s new son last week.
Council next approved the minutes from September and also the financial statement, of which town administrator Frank Wehrle said, “It’s pretty normal stuff.”
The town heard first from Wehrle, who had the update from Thrasher on the water project in hand. Although the river crossing was completed, the town has kept the conserve water advisory in place in anticipation for work to commence again. Although heavy rains have moved the area farther from supply issues, the soon to be resumed work will temporarily cut the town off from some of its supply.
The conservation order does not reflect a danger of running out of water so much as a precaution until work concludes.
Wehrle shared that Thrasher informed him that work would resume on the water project in the third or fourth week of October.
Russ Sasso, town councilman, asked, “So the plan is just to reannounce” the order when work resumes. Wehrle answered in the affirmative.
Next, New River Engineering came with a proposal based on research they conducted independently for the project. Though the Town of Franklin’s elected officials did not request it, they expressed strong appreciation for the work.
Their representative stated that he had “ideas for the plant that might ultimately save a good bit of money.”
New River Engineers had come across an article about a sewer project in New Zealand. It reads “wastewater ponds may seem an unlikely place to look for solutions to New Zealand’s electric security crisis.”
Though Pendleton County does not face such an emergency because almost all power in the Mountain State comes from reliable coal and natural gas sources, the opportunity to save money on power grabbed the council and mayor’s attention.
The City of Auckland in New Zealand constructed a floating solar power array to set on the surface of a wastewater treatment pond. It does not disrupt the function of the pond, but provides enough power to serve the needs of the facility.
Further research by New River Engineers uncovered a grant by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection that could cover 100 percent of all costs related to installing such a project. It would not cover future costs of maintenance and repairs, but, as they explained, a sound budgetary policy would put some of the savings on power into a fund for that purpose.
Sasso replied, “We really appreciate your proactivity.”
The project would not have to sit on the water if other surfaces, such as building roofs, could be utilized. Sasso pointed out that excess power produced would flow back into the grid and the town would receive payment for the surplus. New River Engineers explained that some that had done similar projects put excess power into batteries for storage.
Horan noted in response that “you’ll have days without sunshine” and that the town would have to prepare for that eventuality.
The council approved a motion to encourage New River Engineers to continue to research and prepare to apply for the grant.
They then performed the first reading on a one percent town sales and use tax ordinance, described in another article.
