GOOD HOPE, Ala. – The Good Hope City Council on Monday night discussed the town’s sewer system and economic development.
Each year, municipalities must submit a Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) report to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Living Water Services President Grady Parsons presented the council with the report’s findings.
Parsons explained that a low score is a good score on the MWPP and data is taken from 2019 to determine the scores.
“Part 3 has to do with the age of the plant and you are always going to have 40 points there. You just can’t get around it,” he said. “That’s just the age of the plant and how it calculates. The other item that is higher is Part 1 and that’s 45 points. That’s because we get infiltration in the sewer system; we know that and have for years. Our flow over the last few years has gradually gone up.”
The population increase Good Hope continues to experience is one of the reasons Parsons cited for the increase in infiltration.
The good news is the water quality score was only five points.
Living Water Systems conducted a flow study last year and will help pinpoint where repairs are needed to the system.
Parsons said, “If it ever dries up where we can get into that line at the interstate from the Welcome Center, down through there is where we found most of our problems.”
Parsons also hopes to be able to use cameras to check other lines that have been identified as troubled spots.
The council passed a resolution to allow Parsons to submit the report to ADEM.
The council also discussed entering into a 772 economic development agreement with Jeronimo Silva, the contractor developing the San Antonio subdivision. A 772 agreement allows municipalities to offer incentives to attract development.
The City of Good Hope would pay for the 20-inch gutter in the new subdivision, 10 new homes, totaling approximately $7,500.
“It’s not going to cost us a lot, but we are going to reap a lot of benefits from those 10 houses,” said Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett. “You can’t give people breaks unless you tell the people why you are giving it. That’s called a 772. The State of Alabama says, ‘OK, if it’s for economic development and you will tell the people of Alabama why it’s economically feasible for you to do that, you can do that for economic development.’”
The council approved a motion to proceed with the 772 with a cap of $15,000. The next step will be a public hearing to be set at a later date.
The City of Good Hope received its first money from the Rebuild Alabama Act gas tax money.
City Clerk Christie Chamblee said, “It amounts to about $1,500. It’s going to average out to just over $1,500 a month and that goes directly into our gas tax account.”
The City also received its 3% Co-op tax for almost $92,000. That tax is received annually.
The council also took care of appointments to the Board of Adjustments. Calvin Mize’s term was extended to Dec. 1, 2023 and Milford Parrish’s term was extended until Dec. 1, 2021. Preston Prewett was appointed to the board for three years after serving as an alternate. Tyler Mills and Roy Quick were appointed as alternates.
The Sizzlin’ Seniors of Good Hope will meet Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. in the basement of city hall. The seniors will participate in a potluck taco lunch and enjoy bingo and beanbag baseball. The Sizzlin’ Seniors are also planning a day trip to Athens Feb. 13 for a Valentine’s lunch and show at Yesterdays. The cost of the trip is $45.
Good Hope Parks and Recreation baseball and softball signups will continue until Feb. 14.
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