During their regular monthly meeting, the Olla Town Council approved an upcoming project to reconstruct a portion of Church Street. The Council gave Mayor Rhonda Elliott the authority to act on behalf of the town to sign contacts, requests for payment and other paperwork needed to carry out the project.

“We were awarded a capital outlay project grant for the reconstruction of Church Street,” Mayor Elliott said. “That will start at the corner of Blake and Church… cross Central… and go as far as the funding will allow.”

During the meeting, the Council also approved of several department reports.

According to Chief Jody O’Bier, the police department had a total of 140 citations written with a total of $25,598.45 collected, 16 incidents and 11 arrests for the month of September.

Chief O’Bier also provided good news on a grant that he applied for on behalf of the department this past summer.

“We are meeting with Guidry’s (Uniforms) tomorrow… to get fitted for the outer carry vests,” O’Bier stated. “We were approved for the Patrick Leahy bulletproof vest grant, so we are just waiting to hear from them to get those.”

Mayor Elliott then provided the public works department report, which included several updates on the water treatment plant.

“As far as the water treatment plant, we are in the process of swapping the wells over,” Mayor Elliott reported. “They’re having to do those one at a time. We are almost complete with the water treatment plant.”

Mayor Elliott also updated the Council that water rates would soon be reviewed and would most likely go up, as part of a grant the town received.

“Our water rates are going to have to be reviewed by the state officers as a condition for that grant for the water system,” she explained. “As of right now, I haven’t received a notice. Since they use their own auditors, we are kind of on a waiting list.”

Though the possibility of an increase in water rates might be viewed in a negative light, the Mayor reminded the Council and the public that the town already has some of lowest water and sewer rates in the area.

The Council also approved of an occupational license request by Christopher Brandon Hobbs for Hobbs Service Center which will be relocated across the street from the current location.

During the Mayor’s comments, Mayor Elliott was excited to tell the Council that new fencing had been installed behind the Dixie Center and that work continues at the Holloway Building.

“The fence ties in with our other court-yard fence,” she stated. “Work continues at the Holloway Building. I went and picked out the flooring and the paint colors for the offices two weeks ago.”

Mayor Elliott also updated the Council that in the coming months, she would be looking for funding options for a new sewer treatment plant as the town can’t continue to use the current one for much longer.

“We have been approved through DEQ for a loan for a new sewer treatment plant which we so desperately need,” she reported. “Back when we applied for the grant, we had enough funding, but with costs having gone up, I have to try and find more funding to supplement the difference.”

Though there was nothing yet to approve, Mayor Elliott did tell the Council that she hoped to find a new solution soon so work can begin.