Residents request permission for water to be supplied by North Carolina

The water in the Rock Springs community is terrible, Max Mintz told the Blacksburg Town Council on Tuesday during the group's regular monthly meeting.

Mintz, Wayne Jones and Alvin Wylie spoke with council about the water needs for the community and the Rock Springs Church.

Mintz said one resident drilled 900 feet without hitting water, another has water so bad the family can't bathe in it, and yet another resident has a holding tank to help him get through the dry summer months.

Mintz requested council allow the state of North Carolina to pump water to the community, which sits just four-tenths of a mile from the state line on Rock Springs, Ross and Bridges roads.

He said because the church is growing so fast it must use a local recreation club to hold large-scale functions.

"In the very near future we want to build a family life center but we can't do that until we get some water. We just need water so bad and I hate to see the church being held up," he said.

In the past, the Department of Heath and Environmental Control has requested Blacksburg allow North Carolina to provide water to a mobile home park in that area, a move the town approved.

The Town of Blacksburg has been working to provide water to all areas surrounding the town, even if they are outside of the town's limits. Through the Holly Grove I and II projects, the town has provided access to public water to residents along Mt. Paran, Rock Springs, Tribal, Roark, Holly Ridge and Holly Grove roads, as well as North Mountain and Pearson streets.

Construction on the Holly Grove II project is slated to begin March 29 and will provide public water access to Rock Springs Road. The scope of the project ends at a bridge at Buffalo Creek.

Blacksburg Town Administrator Trudy Martin is working to get additional funds to allow construction workers to bring the utilities across the bridge and provide access to three more homes, which would provide water to the railroad tracks on Rock Springs Road.

"We're doing the water project to Buffalo Creek now," Mayor David Hogue said. "We realize the whole ridge is bad. And we consider y'all our folks too. The thing that concerns me is signing the resolution (allowing North Carolina to provide water) without talking to our lawyer. But I don't want to be a part of denying anybody water."

Martin will consult with town attorney Larry Flynn and a special called meeting may be scheduled to approve or deny the request by the Rock Springs community.

Town council also passed first reading of an updated code ordinance for the town marking the first time the community has updated its codes since 1991. Town leaders have been working on updating the codes for two years.

A final reading will be held following a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. March 29, during which a final reading of the proposed new budget will also be held.

Councilwoman Janie Wilson was appointed to the Appalachian Council of Government board. In personnel news, Martin was named the full-time town administrator. She returned to the administrator duties from retirement after former administrator Danny McDaniel died Jan. 13.

Hogue and councilmen Joe Ross and Mike Patterson will be sworn in to four-year terms April 1 at 3 p.m. at the Iron City Place.