Recently, the Town of Duck Hill began flushing fire hydrants, but there was a little miscommunication. People were not aware when they began to lose pressure and took to social media to complain.
Alderwoman Lula Brown said the issue was residents were not made aware in time to prepare for the loss of water pressure.
“The main thing is that they didn’t know,” she said. “Folks was washing and cooking, and then all of a sudden they don’t have any pressure.” She said the town needed to find a better way to inform residents.
Mayor Al White asked if Duck Hill Fire Chief Michael Woods could flush the hydrants during the day when people are at work.
“I can, but the problem is that I have a full-time job,” he said. “And I won’t have any help.”
“Flushing on Saturday isn’t a problem, just give folks an advance notice ahead of time,” Brown said.
“We can put it in the paper,” Alderwoman Shernell Everett said. Woods said it was too late to put it in the paper for this week, but when they flush the rest of the hydrants they’ll make people aware ahead of time.
Woods said that some of the hydrants hadn’t been flushed in a while.
“It was all kind of red and black coming out of those hydrants,” he said referring to the sediment in the hydrants. “Some of those hydrants hadn’t had a wrench to them in 20 or 30 years, he said.” Woods said that some of the hydrants took about 20 minutes before they produced any water pressure.
He said they still lacked from Carrollton Street and streets south of Carrollton.
“Before we do those hydrants, I’ll let you know a week in advance,” Woods said.
In other board news:
The Town of Duck Hill honored Little World Day Care owner Brenda Ewiss for her service and dedication for 25 years. During their board meeting, the town surprised Ewiss with the recognition for being in operation.
Mayor Al White told Ewiss they appreciated her hard work and service for the youngest residents of Duck Hill and the surrounding area.
Also, the board heard from Chief Tyler Winter. Winter said the legislation passed the House Bill for premium pay for law enforcement.
“They’re giving a $1,000 to the officers that worked during COVID-19,” he said. “They’ve already pass the resolution, you just have to sign it and send it to them.”
Board Attorney Adam Kirk said the City of Winona also signed a similar one. “I believe they send the money to the town, and Kay disperses it,” Kirk said.
Winter said there are only three of them in Duck Hill that will receive the funding, because the other officers will receive the funding through their full-time agencies.
He also said he had to get a new quote for cameras to be installed at the library. Winter said he received a prior quote but the company never came, so he had to find a new company. White asked Winter about funds through a Homeland Security grant.
“I’ve applied for it before. I’ve tried to get pole cameras to go throughout the town, but I didn’t get it. It’s hard to get it,” Winter said.
“They have some new funds, try to go after it again,” White said.
