CHERRY VALLEY — The Cherry Valley City Council is currently negotiating with the Vanndale-Birdeye Water Association to remain with the association.
Steve Stricklin, board president for Vanndale-Birdeye Water, discussed the benefits of the city being part of the association during the council’s September meeting.
Stricklin said that the city was operating under a corrective action plan issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and was facing fines for noncompliance when the association began providing contracted services to the city.
The association brought in engineer Wayne Henley to assist with addressing the identified compliance issues. Work was completed to bring the system back into compliance, which included restoring the sewer ponds and contact chamber.
Officials also worked with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to secure loan forgiveness in connection with the construction of the city’s new water treatment plant.
Some of the future plans include painting the city’s water tanks, hopefully with grant funding, and replaceing the remaining asbestos-cement water lines within the city.
The council has asked that Vanndale-Birdeye Water have a representative attend each meeting in order to answer any questions concerning the water and sewer systems.
The association is expected to submit a proposal for the council to consider during its October meeting.
