Today the Pell City Council voted on a city ordinance authorizing the council to wave minimum water bills for residents experiencing problems with discolored and foul-smelling water.

Last Thursday the city held a public meeting that gave residents the opportunity to voice their concerns about the water.  Problems arose after the city began receiving water from the new Coosa Valley Water District. Now the city is working to resolve those issues.

On Friay Pell City attorney Jon Rea met with consultants of InSite Engineering, a firm based in Hoover, Ala., and discussed approaches to solving this type of problem.  Rea told the council the recommendation of the firm was to continue to flush the system.  Earlier today Rea met with another engineering firm and a water treatment expert from Thorton, Musso and Bellemin out of Louisiana, who took water samples from the affected areas in Pell City and the Coosa Valley plant for testing.  The city expects to receive the test results within days.

“It’s an operational issue…it’s an infrastructure issue…it’s a water chemistry issue,” Rea said.

Councilman Donnie Todd question why the pipe was not run initially run directly to the tank when it was put in place.  Councilman Greg Gossett, who is on the Coosa Valley Water Board, said a cost difference of more than $7,000 influenced the board’s decision about where to run the pipe.

“In hindsight we should have spent the money,” Gossett said.

Mayor Bill Hereford asked for an ordinance that authorizes him and one other council member to deal with issues related to residents’ water bills in an expedient manner.

“I am trying to do something that helps folks now, not two days from now,” Hereford said.

An ordinance was voted in authorizing the mayor and council to wave the minimum water bill under certain circumstances.

The council is in recess until Thursday at 5 p.m. at which time the council will hold a special meeting to continue working towards resolving water issues.

In other actions the mayor and council:

—Aprroved a $5,000 grant for new equipment and copier in the library.

—Approved the development agreement to begin working towards renovation on the old Food World building.

—Approved a bid from Emergency Lighting for new police car Equipment.

—Approved the execution of an agreement between the Pell City Fire Department and the Alabama Fire College.

—Approved sending participants from the fire department to Burn Camp.  The department sent two participants last year and hopes to send three next year.

—Presented a proclamation naming April 2012 Confederate Heritage and History Month to recognize the service and sacrifice of Confederate soldiers.

—A public hearing pertaining to the Series 2012-B Refunding Obligation Warrants is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m.