Linden Public Works Director Justin Bunn, left, takes a selfie of himself and department employees. From left, they are city foreman Alex Washington, Caleb Cunningham and Carter Foreman. Newest employee A. J. Price is absent for this picture.
The mini excavator belonging to the RBIS Construction Company of Texarkana, AR,has made a careful dig along Barker St.in Linden.The workmen are locating a natural gas line which much be found and avoided before water pipe is laid.
Linden’s newest public works department employee of about a month is A. J. Price, left. He’s shown with work partner Caleb Cunningham.
The blue of the pipe stands for water, and the water pipe waiting to be installed along Texas Street in Linden. Such pipe looks long-lasting and attractive. Approximately one-third of Linden’s old water lines are being replaced.
A welcome addition to Linden’s future
The blue pipe, workers with high-glow yellow shirts and the machines digging and spreading dirt along Linden town streets are signs of a $4.7 million grant and loan project at work.
The project is to lay new water distribution pipe. It began more than nine years ago when Linden applied to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for participation in the USDA’s rural development initiatives. Some 40 per cent on the funding would be a grant. The remainder would be a low interest loan of 30 years at 2.65 percent interest.
Linden would get new water lines. The new lines being installed would replace about one-third of the city’s old water lines. In the beginning, this amount was more than half of the streets would be served, but costs rose and changes occurred in the intervening nine years.
The new installation work is being done by RBIS construction company of Texarkana, AR. The new pipe being placed is of a variety of sizes. If the old pipe being removed is metal it is cut up and hauled off to the trash yard. If plastic, it is cut up and the trash people come and get it.
The project means the townspeople will have less of the misery of water line breakage or the threat of city water tanks going empty. The old line was more than 50 years old. Well beyond its useful age.
The new pipe will perform for many years into the future, explains public works director Justin Bunn. He’s excited because water distribution improvement is the purpose of his department.
“The city has a five person public works department that is a combination of a street crew and a water crew,” Bunn said. “This means we can get more people working in a better way together on water or street emergencies.
“At the same time, our department employees work with enthusiasm and at all hours and under all conditions. For the whole town. They are to be appreciated. Give them a thank you every now and then. They deserve it.”
With fewer problems to occur, town water department employees will suffer less criticism for water problems and might not be called out at all hours for water distribution problems. Department enthusiasm and public appreciation might increase. Bunn said he thinks this will be the case.
“About a year ago we accepted a challenge. Get things accomplished while working on water leaks and street problems.
“The four guys and myself have worked, even over worked, to get this done. We took on a challenge. I didn’t think we could actually get it done, but my guys have done an amazing job.”
The five members of the department are Bunn, public works director; Alex Washington, city foreman; and Caleb Cunningham, Carter Foreman and A. J. Price Linden’s water meters are also top performers. They are electronic read and on computer, meaning each meter’s information goes straight to city hall and can be read or analyzed immediately.
“This helps because city hall will be alerted if a leak is occurring, and the homeowner is losing water and may not even know it,” Bunn said.
New pipe and creating fewer water leaks for a long period of time will be a major bonus and will save the city for years to come. The blue pipe laying peacefully on the green grass is more than a curious momentary item to view. It is the symbol of a welcome addition to Linden’s future.