Century eyes new waterline

Although no decision was made, the Century Council Monday night heard a request to upgrade the water line that serves several businesses along the bridge crossing from Alabama to Florida on the east side that do not have sprinkler systems for fire suppressions.

Dale Long with Municipal Engineering presented the council with a letter he had sent to Century Mayor Henry Hawkins after being asked by Heath Burkett to research what it would take to upgrade a water line on Ivy Street from Cottage to Flomaton Storage to provide fire protection to the facilities. The business has to install a sprinkler system according to Hawkins.

Long presented copies of a proposal letter to council members that showed a total cost estimate of around $80,000.

Hawkins said the developer, Larry Baxley, owner of Baxley Enterpises, which runs Flomaton Storage, was willing to pay a portion of the project cost.

“What we've got is a small, undersized line on Renfroe and Stateline Roads with multiple customers on it,” said Long. “Heath and I discussed was possibly trying to put a new, 2-inch and then serving some customers off that line. To upgrade the existing 2-inch.”

Long said there is room to scale back some of the costs if necessary.

Councilwoman Ann Brooks asked where the money for the project will come from and Long said he did not know of any readily available monies.

Hawkins estimated Baxley's share would be about one third of the cost. He said that several stores, including Dollar General, the mechanic shop, the parts store, and Odom's do not have what is needed to provide a fire suppression system.

“That two-inch main is not going to support what we need for fire suppression,” said Hawkins. “We have one fire hydrant down on the corner of Cottage and Ivy.”

Hawkins said he had not spoken with CPA Robert Hudson about funding the project.

Long suggested the construction could partially be done by the town, which would be less expensive, although he did note there is work that would have to be done by a contractor.

Century Water and Wastewater Supervisor Heath Burkett said that with the workload he and his crew have, they could not stay dedicated to that project, which would put the project at a later finish date.

“It would take a lot longer time because we would not be able to get out there day in and day out, we'd have to do it as we could,” said Burkett.

Brooks suggested tabling the project until the money to fund it can be determined. The council agreed.

 
 
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