By John Howell
Batesville city officials will ask a property owner who has requested a larger water line if he will be willing to bear a portion of the cost.

Lawrence Hoskins, who owns the commercial building on Highway 51 South that formerly housed Panco, has converted the facility into an adult day care. City fire regulations require a fire protection sprinkler system in the structure.

Water and sewer superintendent Mike Ross told the mayor and aldermen at their May 20 meeting that construction of a six-inch diameter water line to provide enough pressure for a sprinkler system would cost approximately $9,500. The two-inch diameter pipe that presently provides water to the building will not provide sufficient water pressure, Ross said.

Ross prepared the cost estimate after he first met with the mayor and aldermen about the sprinkler system last month. To bring water from the nearest city plug to the edge of the day care property will require installation of about 450 feet of six-inch pipe, the superintendent said.
“Is that our responsibility?” Alderman Ted Stewart asked.

“Save A Lot worked with y’all on that,” City Code Administrator Pam Comer said, referring to the 2012 expansion of the grocery business on Highway 6 at Bates Street. Fire regulations also required a sprinkler system to be installed during that construction as well, Comer said.
“You want me to tell him, he’s got to pay some of it?” Ross asked.
Assistant city attorney Ryan Revere would research the city’s responsibility for making the water line available in order for the property owner to be able to comply with the city’s fire regulations.
In other city business during the May 20 meeting:

• Aldermen approved Ross’ purchase of a $47,965 from ICM a machine to clean out sewer lines. The figure was the lowest of four quotes that ranged to $53,010. The machine replaces another that no longer performs adequately;

• Aldermen voted to reject the bid opened May 6 for a downtown renovation project. The sole bid submitted was almost $200,000 above the engineer’s estimate.

“We want to discuss some options,” said city engineer Blake Mendrop, who recommended the bid be rejected. Mendrop said that he had a meeting scheduled with the electrical contractor to learn if changes would bring the cost lower;

• Aldermen tentatively discussed the names of people who have been asked to serve on the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. At the May 6 meeting, city officials agreed that aldermen, the mayor and the city clerk would each contact a prospective commission member and submit his or her name to comprise a seven-member commission.