Published Wednesday, November 27, 2002
rip crisis management
is taken to task
Herald Staff Writer
Concerned citizens and borough officials packed Greenville Municipal Authority's meeting room Tuesday night to question and criticize the authority board.
It was the first public meeting of the authority's board since two intake pumps that supply Greenville's water treatment plant broke down last month. The pump problems plunged the town into a boil water advisory that was lifted a week ago and a monthlong conservation request that's still in effect.
"We are still boiling water and driving to Wal-Mart to get water," said Joy Peterson. "Our water rates have been rising, and the quality is going down."
Water customers were not the only people who expressed their opinions. Several members of Greenville council were also at the meeting.
Councilman Ian Scott Forbes said he was concerned with some of the events surrounding the recent water crisis.
"There is a total lack of an emergency plan," Forbes said. "And if there was one, it wasn't put into operation."
Forbes suggested having spare parts on hand, and a more clearly defined emergency plan.
"This board is a monopoly," Forbes said. "If it were a private company, it would be out of business."
Several people expressed dissatisfaction with the service they were getting from the water company.
"I am not against paying more for my water if the quality is assured," said Ann Rodawalt of Greenville.
Other water customers wanted to know the status of the pump and when they could expect the water service to return to normal.
Authority Superintendent Bill Brady said the new pump is installed but was still awaiting electrical hookups. Brady said the pump should be running by Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
"This was a catastrophic event," said board Chairman Jack Dershimer. "It was beyond our control."
Speaking for his fellow council members, David Henderson -- who is a non-voting member of the authority board -- said one of council's main concerns was Fire Chief Steve Thompson's claim the fire department was not notified as soon as the authority knew it was having problems.
Henderson read part of a memo Thompson wrote to borough council charging the water authority board with not acting properly as soon as it knew there was a potential crisis. If the fire department would have known about the reduced pressure in water lines and diminished water reserves sooner, Thompson said, the department would have implemented its emergency plan more quickly. The plan calls for the immediate dispatch of nearby fire departments to a fire in the borough.
"By not notifying us, a catastrophic fire could have resulted," Thompson's memo said. "A simple phone call" to contact the fire department of the crisis would suffice, his memo said.
Authority office manager Maria Kerekes said the fire department and "other agencies directly affected" by the crisis were notified immediately.
At a closed meeting Monday night, the municipal authority board met with insurance advisers to discuss the water crisis, said Dick Miller, board treasurer.
Miller said insurance representatives advised the board against "publicly discussing any refunds or rebates to customers."
Miller said the board was also advised to set up an independent committee to study the crisis, how it was handled, and the management of the pump system and the filtration plant.
"All of us have had our credibility damaged," Miller said. Creating that review committee would help restore confidence in the authority, he said.
The board voted unanimously to advertise for such a review before adjourning the meeting. They did not explain what that would entail.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at:
ateutsch@sharonherald.com