Stronghurst Village Board 

Water Woes Continue: Stronghurst Hauling Daily, Spray Park Remains Closed

By Shirley Linder, Executive Quill Editor

At the regular meeting of the Village of Stronghurst Board on Tuesday, June 2nd, three Stronghurst Booster Club members were present to ask for barricades to be put on Broadway Street on the nights of the Farmers Markets.

They also said they had been having complaints regarding the spray park not being open. They said the booster club will continue to maintain the spray park so it will be in working order when the water issue is solved. 

They requested that perhaps an article be written and placed in the paper explaining why this is not open. Mayor Brendan Schaley said he would write an article explaining the situation.

Dennis Day said a semi had come around his corner and broken the water valve cover. He wondered if there was any kind of protection he could put up to protect the cover. After some discussion Mayor Schaley said he and Ronnie Gittings would go down and look at it after the meeting.

Shirley Linder asked if when there was a change in the board’s meeting date if the public could be notified on the call list they use for emergencies. Mayor Schaley responded that was possible.

Ronnie Gittings reported the water usage had been fluctuating and they were still only able to pump 78-79 gallon per minute from the well. Therefore, they are hauling water daily. At that time he said the tower was down approximately 40,000 gallons and he hoped to get it back to the 75,000 gallons that it should be.

He reported three trees has been cut down and they were still in the process of cleaning them up.

Mayor Schaley said the spray park would use 10,000-15,000 gallon of water per day. 

Due to having to buy and haul water they could not afford to have it running. The semi only holds 5,500 gallon.

Doug Erickson of Benson & Associates said they were getting closer to time for the bids to go out for the well to be dug.

Police report for May included: 20 hours worked, 90 miles on the squad car, 3 uniform traffic tickets, 4 service calls.

In other business the board:

*approved the minutes from last month and the paying of bills for this month

*approved the financial report of -$24,537.83

*approved opening an account for the USDA grant                   

The next regular board meeting will be held Monday, July 6, at 6:00 p.m. at village hall.

Present Mayor Brendan Schaley;  Trustees, Janice Smith, Paige Torrance, Amanda Van Arsdale, Mike Swisher, (Mike Bohnenkamp, Nathan Harden absence); Employees, Ronnie Gittings, Brittany Smith; Guests, Doug Erickson, David Knutstrom, Randy Jarvis, Dennis Day, Peyton Steck, Amanda Jack, Lori Hamilton, Shirley Linder