LOCAL, PAGE A7
LOCAL, PAGE B8
SPORTS, PAGE B1
BELL EXCITED TO COACH TALLASSEE VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Stonehenge Gallery hosts show for Priscilla Crommelin
DAC foundation receives major donation INSIDE:
Tallassee, AL 36078
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May 18, 2022
TallasseeTribune.com
VOL. 124, NO. 20
City could sale gas utility By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer With rising costs and looming deadlines to remove old cast iron gas lines, Tallassee Mayor John Hammock said the city could save money by selling its
gas utility. Gas is one of three utilities currently offered in Tallassee joining water and sewer. Prior rate studies show gas being the only city utility covering the cost of providing the service. But inflation, supply chain issues
and new rules in the last few years will likely change that. “I don’t know what to do,” Tallassee Mayor John Hammock said. “With inflation we are running the risk of being in under recovery there. We used to make over $300,000 a year on gas and
that is what was going to pay the bond.” Gas was the only city utility Tallassee was not having to figure out how to fund beyond the revenues it took in. “The only thing we are not in under recovery is natural gas,”
‘It felt like going home’ Lindy Blanchard greets voters while on campaign trail 24 primary run-off elections, which are a little over two weeks away. Republican gubernatorial Blanchard began her tour candidate Lindy Blanchard by attending a meeting with described her tour of Alex- the Lake Martin Dadeville ander City and Tallapoosa Area Chamber of ComCounty as returning “home” merce as well as with local during an election campaign store owners. visit on Tuesday. Blanchard is currently “It felt like going home polling in second place because I saw a lot of peobehind incumbent Governor ple I knew. I like to say Kay Ivey, and has outspent that I have had a normal all other gubernatorial Alabama upbringing and candidates in terms of camlived here my whole life,” paign spending. Blanchard said. Blachard’s visit to TalThe Wetumpka native lapoosa County was part met with community leadof her campaign’s appeal ers, business owners and to rural voters, especially residents ahead of the May given her hometown of By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
Wetumpka. She describes herself as a “typical Alabamaian”, with rural life being at the center of her identity and upbringing. Blanchard’s Alabama roots run deep and according to Blanchard, her ancestors were among the first settlers in the region, long before Alabama became a state. As a child, Blanchard recalled living with her family in a trailer near Highway 231 and spending her time swimming in the Coosa River. On weekends, her family would gather after church on Sundays to eat, play See BLANCHARD, Page A6
WILLIAM MARLOW | THE TRIBUNE
Gubernatorial candidate Lindy Blanchard chats with Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird in the mayor’s office in city hall Tuesday, May 10. Blanchard stopped by Tallapoosa County while on the campaign trail.
Hammock said. “In the last year gas has more than doubled. We are lucky to get the prices we are because of a co-op we are in.” The increased costs mean the nearly $4 million in bonds See UTILITY, Page A6
Growth in Tallassee causing water issues By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Tallassee’s infrastructure is being tested as people move to the area — especially drinking water. With new homes either under construction or property owners wanting to build homes in the areas of Little Road and Lakewood Drive, leaders are trying to determine a way. The city’s water tanks are in good condition after the reconditioning of the downtown water tank. Now the Tallassee City Council is trying to figure out the best way to add the new water customers without breaking the bank. “We got some issues on Little Road,” public works superintendent James Garner told the council. “These areas are growing a pretty good bit. We have budgets we are trying to work within.” Inflation and supply chain issues have already caused current and recently finished projects in Tallassee to go over estimated costs that could lead to issues with the city’s current customers. Prices for supplies to treat water have gone up and the city doesn’t collect enough revenue from its wholesale customers to cover the
costs of treating water. “We are at the end of our [budgeted monies] and still have several months to go,” Garner said. The area of Katie Lane off of Little Road only has a 2-inch supply line. It is many years old and needs replacing but with an estimated 14 new homes in the area, Mayor John Hammock said it likely needs to be replaced with a 6-inch line. The larger line would allow for better pressure, but the city also needs to replace some of the supply lines feeding the area. The city also has water pressure issues on New Quarters Road. It is a line the city had to take on following a lawsuit as Tallassee supplied water in addition to parts of the industrial park. City leaders said there is no funding currently to properly address the issues but Hammock said there might be an option to get some funding. Hammock suggested asking the Elmore County Commission for part of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help with the issue. Hammock said the city could also seek low-interest loans from the See WATER, Page A6
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