By Patrick Yost
Editor

The City of Buckhead is facing an Environmental Protection Division audit regarding it’s municipal water system.
   

At the regular city council meeting Monday, Buckhead Mayor Ricky Walker reported to the council that the city’s water system had recently been examined by EPD auditors and had been found deficient in several areas.
   

Walker said the city had 30 days to complete repairs to the system or show the EPD a “plan of action” to complete repairs.
   

The EPD has requested that the city:
    • Place a security fence around the city’s water tower. Walker is going to request a bid on a ten-foot-tall chain–link fence topped with barbed wire  that would surround the base of the tower.
    • Place a layer of rip–rap around and underneath the water tank’s overflow pipe to eliminate soil run–off.
    • Repair the roof of the city’s well house. Council member Gene Porter said he had examined the roof and determined that the city should completely replace the roof.
    • Complete a water conservation plan questionairre and complete a hydrant flushing schedule.
    • Develop an emergency plan of operation.
    • Close and cap an old well on Saffold Road. Walker said the well is currently not in use and that the pump would be removed and the well would be capped.
    • Institute a plan that would require continuous fluoridation by the city.
   

Walker said all the issues should be completed within the 30 day period. The city received the letter from the EPD on August 8. He also said that as a contingency any projects that could not be completed by the 30 day limit, would be reviewed and an appropriate plan of action would be submitted to the EPD. Walker said the audit is a routine review of the city’s water system and that the city receives a similar audit approximately every four years.
   

In other Buckhead city council news the council:
   

• Voted to approve three city projects but deferred funding for the projects until property tax collections began. Walker said the city’s current cash flow would prohibit spending. “Until tax income comes in we’ve got to buckle down. We’ve got to be super tight.”
   

The projects, totaling approximately $800, include placing signs around the city park that include rules for the park, replacing a park bench that was stolen from the city park and purchasing a new grill for the city park. The bench and the sign improvements were approved by the council but funding for the two projects will wait. Porter suggested the council table the decision on purchasing a grill until city coffers were larger.