By Nicky Boyette – Plant manager Barry Connell announced the Carroll-Boone Water District crew was called upon in April to repair a large leak in the transmission line south of Berryville. A person walking his dog noticed the leak, and Connell said they were able to repair the damage without shutting down the flow of water beyond the leak, which would have meant loss of water for Berryville, Green Forest and Harrison.
Connell also reported that winter weather eroded a stretch of land along Keels Creek putting another section of the transmission line in jeopardy if the erosion continues. Consulting engineer Chris Hall applied for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funds to stabilize and restore the creek bank. At the October meeting, however, Hall told the commissioners FEMA had considered the transmission line was not in imminent jeopardy yet, so the grant application was denied. He will continue to look for funding.
Hall also announced the first phase of the parallel transmission line project had moved beyond residences and was entering rough terrain on its way toward Hwy. 23, south of Eureka Springs.
Office Manager Cathy Klein reported the project for moving a section of the transmission line because of the widening of US 62 near Green Forest was complete, and it came in under budget.
At the July meeting, Hall told commissioners it had taken a perfect storm of events, but that is what caused a joint in the transmission line between the plant and Eureka Springs to separate. The repair, which involved cutting back one of the pipes, extended beyond the time threshold established by the Health Department for these events, so a precautionary Boil Order was initiated. Eureka Springs Mayor Butch Berry complimented the Carroll-Boone team for its quick repair work but asked for a contingency plan for better, more effective communication during emergencies like this one. All parties noted shortcomings in the way communication flowed during the event, and the commission acknowledged Berry’s concerns.
In October, Hall announced the first 36-in. section of the parallel transmission line project extending from Beaver Lake to Hwy. 23 was almost operational. Another part of the project had not fared as well. Several attempts to bore a tunnel under the Kings River were frustrated in a variety of ways. Hall said the team eventually decided, since the water level would be at its lowest before winter rains, to lay the pipe in an open cut, which would put the pipe three – five ft. below the river bed. Klein said by early December the crew had the pipe in place.