WINONA – According to Water Superintendent Frank Faulkner, reports of discolored water in the city is due to iron in the water, something that has plagued the city for years due in part to the aging water system. However, the water is perfectly safe to drink according to the city’s annual water quality report, approved by the Mississippi Department of Health and published in the Winona Times in June 2021.
Recently, some water customers in Winona have reported water appearing “dirty.” During Tuesday night’s regular meeting, Alderman Linda Purnell told the Winona Board of Aldermen and Faulkner about some residents in Ward 5 complaining about the water.
“We have water surges,” Faulkner explained. “When that happens, it stirs up [sediment] in the pipes. If they are having problems, they should let the water run for a while.”
Purnell responded that for some, it is paying for the water after having let it run that is the problem.
“They can call [Winona] City Hall and let them know that they are letting the water run on a specific day, and they won’t be responsible,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner asked Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham to turn on fire hydrants around Ward 5 at a low speed to clear the pipes without stirring up additional sediments, which will help clear the water.
Last February, the City of Winona received word that it had been awarded $3 million in grant funds to expand and improve the city’s water system and complete the rehabilitation of the city’s sewer system. According to former Mayor Jerry Flowers, grant funding for the project -- $2.6 million from the U.S. Economic Development Authority and $400K from the Appalachian Regional Authority -- is the largest amount received by the city for a single project.
Official notification of grant funding was received by the city in August.
The project includes the construction of a new elevated water tank at the Winona Recreational Park, digging a new water well, and rehabbing the remainder of the city’s sewer lines (the first phase of the project was completed a few years ago). The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.8 million.
According to Faulkner, a meeting is set for tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with representatives from the U.S. Economic Development Authority, Engineer Services, and the City of Winona to begin work on the project.
In other city news:
• The board of aldermen approved the construction of a digital billboard by Lamar of Jackson near the northeast corner of Middleton Road and Applegate, near The Hub. The billboard will be an overall height of 35 feet, and the billboard will be 11 feet by 23 feet in size. The sign will rotate eight advertisements on the billboard, changing every eight seconds.
According to Marty Elroy, vice president and general manager of Lamar, the company will donate 50 percent of unsold space on the billboard to the city to use for community events and public relations.
• The board approved the sale of two-and-a-half acres on Peter Lewis Lane, currently owned by the city, to Lee Prewitt for $7,200. Prewitt plans to build an autobody shop on the property.
• The board gave the go-ahead for Willie Mae Petty to begin the process of gaining approval of a variance in the Winona zoning plan to place a mobile home on Cameron Lane, currently one-tenth of a mile outside the zone that allows mobile homes to be placed inside the city.
The process includes notifying the surrounding neighbors of the intention to place a mobile home and holding a public hearing on the matter. Even then, the final decision to allow a variance is up to the board of aldermen, which will vote on the matter at a later date.
A public hearing has been set for December 21 at 5 p.m. on this matter.
• The board approved a lease agreement with North Central Planning and Development District for use of a portion of the Winona Community Center, located on Powell Street. The agreement will allow NCPDD to use the space for $250 per month to be used to cover the utilities of the building.
• The board discussed the proposed burn ban further. Originally, the board voted to ban all burning in the city, however, prescribed burning is often used in agriculture. Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham reminded the board that farmers inside the city limits will still want to continue prescribed burns when needed.
The board agreed to amend the ordinance to allow burning in agricultural zones, however, a permit will need to be approved and issued by the city prior to the burn.
City attorney Adam Kirk said he will make the necessary changes and present the amendment to the board at the next meeting.
• The board voted to move forward in seeking bids to construct additional bathrooms at the Winona Recreational Park and re-bid the reconstruction of the pavilion at the park, at the request of Park Director Mike Narmour.
• The board voted to surplus two vehicles at the Winona Police Department – a 1991 Camaro and a 2010 Ford Mustang, at the recommendation of Chief of Police Roshaun Daniels. Daniels asked to sell the vehicles via bids, and the money will be used to stripe two new patrol vehicles recently purchased from the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department.
• The board voted to contract the services of Account Resolution Services, an agency that will collect outstanding court fines for the Winona Police Department.
• The board accepted a bid of $120,000 from JBG Sculptures of Grand Rapids, Mich., to create a bronze statue of the late Col. Donald Peterson, an American astronaut from Winona. Funds for this project was part of $150,000 allocated by the State of Mississippi, as requested by Representative Karl Oliver (R-Winona).
