By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
Castor council has upheld its decision to not assist a residence with replacing his hot water tank after mud entered his water lines allegedly causing his five-year-old hot water tank to burn out prematurely.
The decision was made after the resident, Mervin Brigley, attended the June 10th meeting of council to appeal the decision that they made in May.
The mud allegedly entered the water system after a water line break in March of 2018.
“We had mud in the main line, contaminating our sinks, tubs, our washer, and water heater,” said Brigley
“The line was leaking for some time before we noticed it, and it lifted the pavement 12 inches.”
Brigley said that the main line was damaged when work was being conducted on the system, allowing the opportunity for mud to enter his line.
The allegation is not something that the director of Public Works sees as being possible because when there is a line break, unless the pipe has to be completely replaced, there is positive pressure kept on the line to prevent contamination from entering it.
The primary factor in the Town declining the initial request for assistance, and the appeal, is Bylaw 1037, which states that the, “Town is not liable for damages: caused by the break of any Town water main, water service connection or other pipe for the settlement of any excavation or trench made for the installation or repair of any party of the water utility.”
“I’d ask you to reconsider the situation I am in,” said Brigley during the meeting.
“If I didn’t think it was legit, I wouldn’t be here. I’m going to pursue it.”
The decision on the appeal was made unanimously by council in a motion made by Coun. Lonny Nelner.
Other highlights of the June 10th meeting of council:
• CAO Christopher Robblee told council about an error in the water system accounting, dropping water system losses from 35 per cent to 26 per cent. He remains optimistic that the losses can be brought back to the 22 per cent range by the end of the year.
• Castor is running a .5 per cent loss in the Town’s gas system. The gas system typically varies around a three per cent gain or loss every year.
• Town administration has hired a summer student who will begin documents destruction of a variety pf 2013 and earlier documents that the Town no longer needs to keep, in order to make room in the vault.
• Council has authorized a road closure in front of the Castor swimming pool for a block party being held on July 5th.