Major water line break repaired in Capac

By Charlie Aldrich
The Tri-City Times

CAPAC — Capac City Council came together for its monthly meeting fresh off a major water main break in downtown during the construction project along with a number of  updates and upgrades for the police department. 

During the Main Street construction project, there was a previously unmarked location of the water main, which was hit during the digging process along the four-block stretch of construction, Village Manager Travis Youatt said.

“There were valves that were crushed, valves that were buried, dirt on top of them, there were so many different obstacles,” Youatt said. “The break wasn’t anyone’s fault, it was a line that wasn’t marked and wasn’t in our system as well. Our guys marking didn’t do anything wrong … the line was abandoned properly a long time ago when it should’ve been.”

During comments from the floor by citizens, there were concerns over the quality of water and the timing of the response from the village for boil warnings and for the water being shut off.

During that time, residents relied on both Facebook updates and the emergency notification system. Numerous residents took to social media platforms to voice their concerns, including what they felt was a lack of communication from village officials and being notified of the boil water alert.

“There needs to be a more deliberate approach when dealing with [the media],” said resident Monica Standel. “Putting it out there has to be better.” 

Other business

• The council also approved upgrades for police department software to use Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System, or CLEMIS. The regional public safety and data-sharing network is used by police, fire departments, and courts to track crime, manage 911 dispatch, and share investigative records.
• Council voted to reduce the number of sitting members on the Downtown Development Authority from 6-4, as a way to reduce vacancies. “The DDA has vacancies; they have a vacancy right now,” Youyatt said. “All of our boards have vacancies. Essentially, when people don’t run, it gives authority to this board to appoint. With fewer trustees, it puts that more into the voters’ hands to pick who they want … it gives the voters more of a deciding ability.”

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 21, at the Capac Municipal Building, 131 N. Main St., Capac.