Utilities closes Jones Lake to fishing

General manager Jerry Revis told the Roanoke Utilities Board at Monday’s meeting there is a problem at Jones Lake. They had been letting the public fish there, and he showed photos of the site with beer cans and boxes all over. They have since locked the gate.

Chairman Ron Cameron said it was going to be open to the public until it was trashed. There is no reason to call about Jones Lake as it is now closed. The lake has catfish, bream and bass.

Revis said, “If the Alabama Department of Environmental Management had pulled a surprise visit on us we’d be written up.”

One photo showed where the visitors broke off a wheel that opens valves that could drain the lake. Jones Lake is the second water source for Roanoke behind Crystal Lake.

On another matter office manager Pam Bonner gave the financial report and said that two air conditioners in the utilities building had to be replaced.

Revis said this is the best July in the past three years. He charts it by the month.

He said they have been talking about Lake George for awhile. It has been tested and came back okay. They put in new chemicals and know they are working. Cameron said to keep checking it.

Revis said Kevin Baldwin, the plant operator, is mapping the software and it is almost done. Every meter, whether gas or water, can be pulled up and the meter reader can go right into the meter. It has been a big help but they are still not able to see who lives there.

Brent Wilson, supervisor of field operations, showed it all on his telephone.

Revis said he had not received a bill but the backwash pump motor at the filter plan is having to be replaced at a cost of $13,599.97. One is being re-used as a backup.

“We had a bunch of kids come out to the filter plant. It was fun. They got there in a school bus and were turned over to Allen Gleaton and Kevin Baldwin and they did a good job. The teachers seemed to enjoy the tour of the water plant–they seemed more interested than the students,” Revis said.

He said they had a Bushhog mower they had been trying to use but have had to weld it. They can get the Bushhog brand or another one for $7,500.

Revis said with their permission he would like to buy the Bushhog brand for $7,500, which they unanimously approved. Board member Walter Sudduth suggested they work on one of them to put in the fall sale.