WINONA – Low water pressure in the northeastern corner of the city has been attributed to three water leaks in or near the Winona Recreational Park.
According to Winona Water Superintendent Frank Faulkner, now that those three leaks were repaired water pressure improved from 17 pounds of pressure to 40 pounds of pressure and higher.
“We fixed three water leaks,” Faulkner said. “Two at the park and one at Pilot [Travel Center].”
Alderman Mickey Austin, whose neighborhood was affected by the low water pressure, said after the water lines were repaired he receives “perfect water pressure” at his home now.
Faulkner said Legion Lake Road is the highest elevation in the City of Winona, and the area is still receiving low water pressure due to its elevation.
“The only way to fix it is by raising the [water tank located on Highway 82 between Middleton Road and Highway 51],” Faulkner said. “I think that is what we need to do. We need to take a step forward on this.”
Winona Mayor Jerry Flowers agreed with Faulkner that the city should move forward with building a new water tank and asked Faulkner to get with the engineers to begin working toward that goal.
The board also tasked Faulkner with beginning a water rate study for Winona to look at a possible water rate increase. According to Faulkner it has been more than five years since the city has raised water rates.
In other city business:
• Winona Librarian Wendy Rushing and Assistant Librarian Patricia Nail gave the Winona Board of Aldermen an update on happenings at the Winona Montgomery Public Library. Rushing said now that National Library Week was over, she is looking toward June’s Summer Reading Program, “Libraries Rock.”
• Entergy will hold an Entergy Solutions seminar to inform the public about Entergy’s promotions to promote energy savings on May 3 or 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Winona City Hall. More information will be available closer to the event.
• The board hired Alexis Alexander as a part-time concession stand worker at the Winona Recreational Park.
• Winona Recreation Park Director Mike Narmour reported to the board that youth soccer has drawn hundreds to the park two nights per week.
“You’d think there was a ball tournament every night,” Narmour said.
• Narmour reported that the new bricked dugouts and bleacher awnings and other improvements made this year are a big hit with park patrons.
“I definitely think the two percent [tourism tax] has improved the quality of the park,” Narmour said.
• The board voted to advertise for a park director for the Powell Street facility.
• The board voted to accept the resignation of Christopher King from the Winona Police Department. They voted to hire Jay Bennett, a Winona native, who has eight years of police experience in Grenada.
• Winona Chief of Police Tommy Bibbs showed the board new drug prevention materials aimed at younger students he will begin handing out in the city.
• The board accepted the retirement of city custodian Tim Collins after 28 years of service.
The board voted to advertise for a part-time custodian.
