During their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 12, the Olla Town Council learned that the Town was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $2 million through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to be used for a sewer treatment plant.

“If you will remember, back in February, you all authorized me to send in a pre-application to DEQ for a grant for a new wastewater plant,” Mayor Rhonda Elliott explained. “I have just recently gotten word that we were accepted and have been approved for $2 million for a treatment plant.”

Mayor Elliott was excited about the news but did explain that the town will be responsible financially for a portion of the project, as the estimate for a new sewer treatment plant has gone up.

“At the time, we estimated $2 million to cover the project, but since then, prices have increased, and our town engineer estimates the cost of a new plant at $2.3 million. So, this is what I propose: We have a reserve account already that we could use, and I also want to open a new reserve account and put in $10,000.00 a year into the account to make up the difference.”

The Council agreed that the Town greatly needs a new sewer plant and approved of Mayor Elliott to draft and introduce a resolution at next month’s meeting.

During the meeting, the Council also heard from town attorney Walter Dorroh and Homeland Bank Branch Manager and Vice-President John McIlwain regarding an extension of Olive Street which is located on the east side of Highway 165, the future location of a new Homeland Bank branch. The Mayor and Councilmembers were unaware of this “road,” as it hasn’t been used since the early 30’s.

“The road is dedicated but an unused road,” Dorroh stated. “We ask that the Mayor introduce the ordinance (to revoke the dedication of the extension of Olive Street) next month.”

The bank wishes to use the area for a parking lot or green space for the new branch location. An ordinance will be introduced next month and will be voted upon during the February meeting.

Also during the meeting, the Council approved of several department reports. According to the fire department report provided by Tullos Fire Chief Ray Atwell, the department responded to four calls during the month of November.

“We had a stove fire at the Mexican restaurant, had smoke from a short in a heat unit at a house on East Avenue,” Atwell continued, “Had a house fire in Tullos and then a vehicle fire at Friendly Village.”

Chief Atwell also reported that one of the tankers is currently out of service, but he is working to try to fix it, and the Summerville Volunteer Fire Department recently donated a 2010 Chevrolet pickup, complete with emergency lights and radios.

Chief Atwell also requested the addition of three new members to the department, Bud Birdwell, Angie Birdwell and Javier Artega, however the Council did not approve of the requests.

According to the police report, the department wrote 123 citations and collected $26,190.67, made two arrests and responded to 18 complaint calls for the month of November.

The Council also approved an ordinance which allows the use of tasers by the Olla Police Department and approved of the ordinance to be added to the Town’s Policy and Procedures Manual.

“Last month, y’all approved to get tasers for the guys, and I did type up an ordinance and submitted a copy to Mayor Elliott,” Chief O’Bier updated. “Please review it and let me know if you have any questions. This is for our policies and procedures. Some of it is borrowed from another department and the rest includes everything that taser requires.”

The Council also approved to renew the Town’s water contracts with Pleasant Ridge and the Town of Urania, however, Mayor Elliott informed the Council that the water rate study will take place soon, and the rates will most likely have to increase following the 6-month contract period.

“The water rates that we are going to vote on tonight for Pleasant Ridge and Urania will most likely change after the study since our own rates will go up,” Mayor Elliott stated. “I foresee the increase due to the leaks and fiber optics hitting our lines. We lost a tremendous amount of water.”

Also during the public works report, Mayor Elliott informed the Council that they have had some issues with water being discolored in some areas following the connection to the new treatment plant. The town’s engineer will continue to investigate and try to locate the problem.

The Council also approved of three alcohol beverage permit renewals, including the Family Dollar, Smokers Paradise Plus and Armadillo Mexican Grill, all in Olla.

At 7:34 p.m., the Council entered into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. The Council exited Executive Session at 7:48 p.m. and reported that no action was taken.