Bath Council joins association
A newly formed organization called the Warm Springs Watershed Association is dedicated to improving water quality and access along Warm Springs Run.
The group's president, Kate Lehman, appeared before the Town of Bath Council Tuesday, October 21 to introduce the organization to mayor and council and explain their objectives.
Appearing with Lehman were Vice President Betty Lou Harmison and founding member Rebecca MacLeod. MacLeod brought her laptop and projector to the meeting and with Lehman, gave a slide presentation.
Lehman talked about the importance of water to this community and the many threats to the health of the stream.
These threats include litter blowing into the stream, oil and other car fluids washing into the stream from adjacent parking lots, bank erosion due to lack of Riparian buffers along the stream's edge, and invasive plants such as Purple Loosestrife and Japanese Knotweed.
Lehman said the group wanted to reach out to other organizations and property owners along the run to educate people and form coalitions to help clean up and improve the stream. She said she would like to see hiking trails along the run.
MacLeod mentioned that one of the goals of the association is to begin monitoring the quality of the water. She said the group is applying for a $5,000 grant to pay for monitoring water in the run.
To have an organization like yours to help us focus on this area is very much appreciated, Mayor Susan Webster said.
Webster immediately joined the association and asked council to consider joining as a group. Council voted unanimously to join the association at a $10 cost.
Other council business
Councilman David Crosby warned the mayor and council that this year's budget will be very tight due to increased expenses and decreased revenue. He asked that council watch discretionary spending.
Webster reported the Moose Club has donated $2,000 to the Streetscape Committee.
Chief Water Operator Terry Largent is working with H.D. Supplies of Martinsburg to start randomly checking the calibration on older water meters, Webster said.
During the water line replacement project completed last summer, several hundred new meters were installed. The next water project will replace several hundred more meters.
Largent is concerned some water and revenue are being lost due to faulty operation of older meters, mostly located outside of the downtown area.
Leaf pickup dates
Town Recorder Margie Allgyer suggested council set leaf pickup dates. Council decided the special pickups of leaves and other yard waste only, placed in leaf bags, will be on Tuesdays, November 18, 25 and December 9.
Town Hall facelift
Renovations at Bath Municipal Center are nearing completion. The building has new rain gutters and fascia, and a new coat of paint. One restroom off the upstairs meeting room is also being remodeled.
Repairs have cost approximately $5,000 so far.
