Low water pressure near Airport Road due to a city project is raising complaints from residents, Hinesville Councilman Keith Jenkins said.
Jenkins said at the council’s March 2 meeting he was first told the project would take three weeks, then told two to three months.
The work will take 10 weeks, Paul Simonton, of P.C. Simonton and Associates said.
The project involves raising three existing elevated water storage tanks to improve water pressure throughout the city’s entire water system. The raised tanks will reduce the need for booster pumps on domestic and fire water lines for commercial and residential buildings, according to officials
Flow tests of the area on Airport Road showed an average pressure of 35-40 pounds per square inch. That’s not really all that different than the water pressure in other parts of the city, Simonton said.
“Airport Road has experienced such high water pressure in the past because of the booster system,” Simonton said. “When we turn the booster system off to clean the tank then the pressure does go down to 35-40 psi. It will be another month and a half before we turn the booster system back on and pressure gets back up to 70 psi. You got so used to that, so now when we cut it off and you have the same pressure that most residents have, it’s hard to get used to.”
Slow down
Council member Diana Reid said residents on Cherokee Circle are concerned speeding cars are putting children in danger. Residents requested some type of road sign and speed bumps, Reid said.
She also said residents of Raintree Apartments asked that a left arrow sign be placed along General Screven Way showing the way to the apartment complex.
Reid also mentioned a problem with crossing guards at Lyman Hall but did not go into further detail, and questioned why Lyman Hall’s school zone is 35 miles per hour when some other school zones are 25 miles per hour.
Traffic concerns were also raised by Jenkins, who said there have been complaints the intersection at Veterans Parkway and South Main Street is too crowded.
He called the intersection a mess with not enough room in turning lanes and suggested the city look into improving the area.
Bids approved
City council approved the bids for the Hinesville pump station and force main project. The project is the replacement of the pump station and 24-foot force main.
Marcus Sack of PC Simonton and Associates said the project was separated into three contracts: pump station rehabilitation, civilian side pipe installation and Fort Stewart side pipe installation. The city was able to save more than $579,000 by separating the contracts, Sack said.
BRW Construction Group was awarded the rehabilitation contract for $1.05 million, which includes demolition, concrete paving, muck and fill.
McClendon Enterprises was awarded the second and third contracts for $2.44 million. Those contracts include asphalt removal, traffic control, permanent grassing, air release valve assembly, sodding and iron fittings.
A portion of the project is being funded through a loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to not exceed $4.6 million.
Future teacher
Kamaren Walthour also addressed council regard a pop-up reading program for elementary students she started through the Liberty County Recreation Department.
Walthour is currently attending Georgia Southern University, pursuing a bachelor’s in middle school education.
She said according to research, constructive social learning is the best type.
“Learning new concepts are best learned in context. In my program we have work stations,” Walthour said. “We read a book then after we read we break off into work stations. We have a reading work station, a writing work station, a science work station and then the child and parent conduct a one-on-one session with me. We go even further into a personalized, mini lesson.”
The mini lesson focuses on improving learning skills, comprehension and “literacy across all content areas.”
Pop-up reading takes place at the Stafford Pavilion every third Thursday from 5-6 p.m. Starting in April it will be 5-6 p.m. for two Thursdays out of the month.
Walthour said the program has gotten popular “due to so many of the community wanting to participate.”
The city council also heard a proposal to change the city’s dress code policy so department heads will determine the appropriate attire for their employees.