ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Officials in Robertsdale are assuring residents that their water is safe after a letter was sent to customers in March saying that the city was in noncompliance by failing to collect and report results from the required number of total coliform samples a year ago.
“The letter is very simple,” said Mayor Charles Murphy. “This is a form letter from ADEM that we are required to send within one year of when the city was found to be non-compliant.”
It’s been about six months since the city was informed of the non-compliance, Murphy said.
Every month, the city is required to take 10 samples, one from a central well and nine samples from random residences. The samples are tested by an independent lab and results are sent to ADEM.
Murphy said the city was informed last summer that only six samples had been taken in March of 2020, which begins an inquiry process.
In September, it was determined that the city was noncompliant with the ADEM requirements and was given 12 months from that time to inform residents of the noncompliance.
“There have been no problems reported from any of the testing that was done and all testing has been in compliance since that time,” Murphy said. “The only problem that we had was in the number of tests that were done and that has since been corrected.”
A letter dated March 1 was sent to all of the city’s utilities customers, regardless of whether or not they were water customers, stating “During the March 2020 monitoring period, the city of Robertsdale has incurred a revised total coliform rule (RTCR) monitoring noncompliance by failing to collect and report results from the required number of total coliform samples for the monitoring period of March 2020 and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time.”
The city has about 9,000 utilities customers, all of whom received the letter. Out of those customers, only about 3,800 receive water service from the city.
“We’ve had a few customers that have called to express concerns,” Murphy said, “and we’ve explained the situation to them and assured them that everything is safe.”
The Robertsdale City Council met briefly for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 15 approving a cost of living adjustment of 2 percent for all of its employees.
According to the city’s personnel policy, Robertsdale’s chief financial officer Ann Simpson contacts the Department of Labor to receive the cost of living increase for the past 12 months, based on the consumer price index. The council may then approve a cost of living increase for city employees.
The cost of living increase is based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers U.S. average (CPI-U) which last year reflected a 1.4 percent increase.
“I think what you are going to find is that everything across the board last year came in lower than projected because of COVID,” Simpson said. “This year, based on what we’ve already seen with the jump in gas prices, it’s going to be higher.”
The city had budgeted a 2 percent increase for this year, Simpson said, and the city should have no problems being able to afford the budgeted increase. The council voted unanimously to approve the 2 percent increase with all members present for the March 15 meeting.
In other business the council approved a pair of measures approving an $800,000 grant project to construct sidewalks in the city.
First, the council approved a professional services agreement with Jinright & Associates Development Engineers (J.A.D.E.) Consulting for the project for construction document preparation for a set fee of $52,350, plus engineering, design and clerical services on an hourly basis.
The council also approved an agreement with the state of Alabama for the Transportation Alternatives Program (T.A.P.) project grant.
The project would include the construction of sidewalks along East Silverhill Avenue from Collage Avenue to Buck Road; Buck Road from East Silverhill Avenue to Wilters Street; along Wilters Street from Buck Road to the Hilltop Apartment Complex; along College Avenue from Old Spanish Trail to Hughen Street; and along Old Spanish Trail from Granite Boulevard to Boulder Lane.
The city would be responsible for 20 percent in matching funds, or approximately $160,000.
The council also approved an agreement with J.E. Estes Wood Company to remove 40 acres of trees on city-owned property located north of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Officials said Hurricane Sally in September damaged about 40 to 50 percent of the trees on the property, but a significant portion of the damaged trees could only be accessed by clearing undamaged trees.
“By the time you removed the good trees to get to the damaged trees, you might as well clear the entire property,” said City Engineer Greg Smith.
The city will be paid $4 perr ton for pulp wood from the removed trees with plans of replanting trees on the property later this year, Murphy said.
The council also heard a presentation about the annual “Call Before You Dig” program encouraging residents to call 811 before digging on their property.
Murphy also informed council members that a ceremony dedicating a plaque in Honeybee Park to longtime Robertsdale resident Rex Aldridge would be held beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 27.
Aldridge, a lifelong beekeeper, known around Baldwin County as “The Bee Man,” formed the Baldwin County Beekeepers Association and was instrumental in starting Robertsdale’s annual Honeybee Festival. He died in 2019 at the age of 98.
