BY LISA STAYTON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Water District reported encouraging improvements in its meeting Oct. 22, including the lowest water loss rate recorded in the last several years.
In a unanimous decision, the board elected Tim Thoma as its new chair.
“I moved to this community two years ago and I have 40 years in wastewater, water system design, construction operations. That’s what I do for a living,” Thoma said before the election. “I’ve taken the last three weeks and toured the county’s facilities and there’s no problem that can’t be fixed. It takes someone in the chair position with engineering knowledge, background, and the ability to look past what other engineers say, to be able to read contracts, read designs, and know what’s best for the community.”
Thoma pledged to steer the board toward positive changes. “The board—we as a whole—will make improvements and better everyone’s lives,” he said. “That’s what this board is about—making everyone’s life better. If the board would nominate me, I would love to be the chair and help lead us into the future.”
Board member Vernon Robinson voiced his support for Thoma, pointing to his expertise.
“It is his knowledge; it is the things that he has brought to the fore, his experience,” Robinson said. “I don’t know if there is anyone in this room, including the Alliance people, who has his knowledge, experience or ability.”
The board also elected Nina McCoy as secretary and newly-appointed member Colby Kirk as treasurer.
Financial concerns weighed heavily in Alliance division manager Todd Adams’s monthly report, which revealed significant costs stemming from the delayed raw water intake project. The water district incurred about $47,000 in September, primarily from renting and fueling a diesel pump needed to sustain operations while awaiting the raw water intake project completion.
Alliance local manager Colby May reported further complications after a rented diesel pump failed at the river, pushing the reservoir below critical levels.
However, Thoma in his first month on the water board was able to identify a more affordable pump rental source that would save the district $6,000 a month. Additionally, he secured an arrangement for off-road diesel that will save another $7,000–$8,000 monthly, bringing total monthly savings to around $13,000–$14,000.
During the meeting, the board held an executive session to discuss potential litigation related to the protracted raw water intake and water treatment plant project. It has dragged on since October 2021 involving Pace Contracting, Xylem Water Solutions, Bell Engineering and the Big Sandy Area Development District.
In the meantime, Alliance has been addressing leak detection, completing 35 repairs in the last month.
“We’ve been isolating sections and investigating long-term leaks,” said May, who reported that the district’s water loss rate decreased from 66.54% in August to 61.55% in September, its lowest in at least the last 6-8 years.
Alliance managers anticipate another drop below 60% in the coming month.
May also reported the installation of a second pump in the Route 40 East pump station.
“This puts us back to having two pumps in 40 East and 40 West, our two main stations that feed the entire system,” he said. “That’s a big deal for us to have two working pumps in both of those stations.”
The water board meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Martin County Government Center.