At Monday night’s workshop on water infrastructure and equipment needs, Mason’s City Commissioners leaned toward waiting on seeking financing and continuing to work on a plan.
This was the second discussion-only workshop the Commission has held on how best to tackle these issues. City Administrator Amanda Hill provided a packet to the Commission containing many scenarios for completing and financing the projects. “This is a starting point,” Administrator Hill told commissioners. Officials in attendance at the workshop were Commissioners William Beaty, District 1; David Hyden, District 2; Michael Keller, District 3; Annette Thomas, District 4; Mayor Robert Rayburn, City Secretary Pattie Allen, Finance Officer Donna Langehennig and Administrator Hill.
Mayor Robert Rayburn described the challenges the Commission is facing in trying to repair a water system that is 100 years old in part. “I sincerely hope that this commission and our citizens realize this is a daunting task,” he said. Nearly 100 percent of the City’s water lines need replacing, a problem that has literally been patched over throughout the decades. “I hope you’ll be as kind as you can to a commission without a magic wand,” he said, as “the needs are more than we have financial support for.”
