Thomasville Water Project Worth More Than $5 Million Nears Completion as City Eyes Sewer Upgrades

THOMASVILLE, Ala. — Thomasville’s water system is close to the finish line on a grant-funded overhaul worth more than $5 million, and city leaders are already turning their attention to the next big need underground: the sewer system. The update came during a wide-ranging Thomasville City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, that also touched on alcohol enforcement, rules for large gatherings, the sale of the local hospital, a possible industrial prospect and a road closure that will affect drivers heading north toward Dixons Mills next week.

The water work has been in progress for nearly three years. City officials said the improvements have been paid for with grant money rather than local tax dollars, and that the effort has included backup pumps and motors for the facility where the city draws its raw water.

What the Thomasville Water Project Means for Residents

For households and businesses, the most practical result of the project is reliability. A water intake is the starting point for everything that comes out of a kitchen faucet, and when a pump or motor at that point fails without a replacement on hand, a utility can be forced into emergency repairs, pressure problems or even boil-water notices while parts are located and installed.

By keeping spare pumps and motors at the intake, Thomasville is building in a cushion against that kind of disruption. City officials said the plan calls for one more pump and motor to be installed at the intake down the road. Once that happens, the facility will have three pumps and motors in place, giving the system an added layer of backup capacity.

Redundancy of this kind is a common goal for small and mid-sized water systems across Alabama. Equipment at an intake typically runs for long hours, and having more than one unit available allows operators to rotate equipment, perform maintenance without shutting down service and respond quickly if a motor burns out or a pump wears down.

Key facts on the water improvements

• Total value: more than $5 million in improvements
• Funding: grants
• Timeline: underway for close to three years and now nearing completion
• Intake upgrades: spare pumps and motors already included
• Next step at the intake: one more pump and motor, for a total of three
• Next priority: sewer system improvements

Sewer System Moves Up the List

With the water projects winding down, city officials said Thomasville is now looking ahead to improvements its sewer system needs. No price tag, schedule or specific list of sewer projects was laid out at Monday’s meeting.

Water and sewer systems are often discussed together, but they handle very different jobs. The water side treats and delivers clean drinking water, while the sewer side collects used water from homes and businesses and carries it to a treatment facility before it is returned to the environment. Aging sewer lines, lift stations and treatment equipment can lead to backups, overflows and costly repairs, which is why many Alabama towns pursue state and federal grants and low-interest loans to fund that work over several years, much as Thomasville did with its water system.

New Rules Aimed at Alcohol Licenses and Large Events

The council approved an amendment to the city’s alcohol ordinance. City officials said the change is meant to make the ordinance easier to enforce and to give the city more authority to deal with alcohol license suspensions in a timely way.

In Alabama, retail alcohol licenses are issued by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, but cities also have a role. Municipalities generally weigh in on license applications within their limits and can adopt local ordinances governing how and where alcohol is sold. Tightening the local rules can give a city clearer procedures when problems arise with a licensed business.

Council members also had an ordinance presented to them that would set guidelines for large events in Thomasville. The proposal would lay out steps that organizers and residents would follow before holding a gathering. City officials said the goal is to make clear what is and is not allowed, noting that the city currently has no established guidelines for such events. The ordinance was introduced at this meeting; no final vote on it was reported.

Special event rules in other communities typically address items such as permits or advance notice, expected crowd size, street closures, security, sanitation and cleanup. The specific requirements of Thomasville’s proposal were not detailed.

Hospital Sale, VFW Property and a Police Complaint Review

Hospital sale order approved

City officials reported that a judge has approved the sale order tied to the local hospital. Documents tied to the entities that will own and operate the facility still must be finished before the transaction is finalized. The hospital’s future has been a closely watched issue in Thomasville, and the court approval marks a step forward in that process, though the city did not announce a closing date.

VFW building headed toward a sale

An appraisal is now in hand for the Old Highway 5 property known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars building. City officials said an ordinance labeling the building surplus property, a required step before any sale, is expected to come before the council at its next session. Money from a sale would be used to improve the American Legion building, under an agreement the city has in place.

In Alabama, a city generally must formally declare real property surplus before it can be sold, which is why the ordinance is needed before the building can go on the market.

Review finds no wrongdoing in complaint

The council also heard the results of a review into a complaint from a local mother who had alleged that police mistreated her 19-year-old son. City officials said no wrongdoing was found. As part of the review, police leadership met with the mother and her son about the incidents, and city officials and council members reviewed body camera footage from the encounters.

Economic Development: Project Burn and a New Restaurant

Two items on Monday’s agenda pointed to possible new investment in and around Thomasville.

The first is an industrial prospect known only by the code name Project Burn. City officials said the Thomasville Industrial Development Board and Clarke County are both parties to a letter of intent signed by the prospect, and that the site under discussion could be near Westervelt. Economic development agencies frequently use code names to keep a company’s identity confidential while negotiations are underway. A letter of intent generally signals serious interest and sets out the basic terms both sides expect to pursue, but it is not a final agreement, and details such as the company’s name, the size of the investment and the number of jobs typically are not released until a deal is complete.

The second item is more immediate for diners. The former People’s Corner building is set to become home to a new Mexican restaurant, with a lease now signed. An opening date was not announced.

Storm Cleanup and Drainage Work

The city is getting ready for a cleanup effort focused on fallen and dead trees. Residents are being encouraged to report spots that need attention, including trees that came down during Hurricane Isaias.

Dead and damaged trees can remain a hazard long after a storm passes. Limbs weakened by high winds may fall weeks later, and trees left lying near roads, ditches and drainage areas can block water flow and create safety risks. Residents who know of problem areas are encouraged to contact the city so crews can plan their work.

On the drainage front, a project now underway is nearing completion, with paving left as the final major step. City officials also intend to study a drainage problem reported on Lee Circle.

Deer Run Road Closure Near Dixons Mills Begins Nov. 16

Drivers who use Deer Run Road near Dixons Mills should plan ahead. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, the road will close, and both eastbound and westbound traffic will be detoured so crews can work on the bypass around Dixons Mills, where new lanes are being built in both the northbound and southbound directions.

• Road: Deer Run Road near Dixons Mills
• Start: Monday, Nov. 16, at 8 a.m.
• Affected traffic: eastbound and westbound
• Detour: posted signs will route drivers along Quail Run Road, County Road 55 and U.S. Highway 43
• Expected length: about one week, though it could run longer

The bypass is part of the larger effort to widen the West Alabama Highway corridor into a four-lane divided route between Mobile and Tuscaloosa. Bypasses around small towns along the route are designed to carry through traffic, including heavy trucks, around town centers instead of down local streets.

Work zones on rural highways call for extra care. Drivers should slow down, watch for flaggers and equipment entering the roadway, follow detour signs rather than trying shortcuts on unfamiliar roads, and allow extra travel time, especially for school, work and medical trips.

What Comes Next at City Hall

Several of Monday’s items will return to the council in the weeks ahead. The ordinance declaring the VFW building surplus is expected at the next meeting, and the proposed large events ordinance will need further action before it takes effect. The hospital sale still awaits completion of paperwork, and more details on Project Burn would likely come only if the prospect moves from a letter of intent to a final agreement.

Thomasville is located in Clarke County in southwest Alabama, along the U.S. Highway 43 corridor. City council meetings are open to the public, and residents who want to follow the water, sewer, drainage and development projects discussed this week can attend future meetings or contact City Hall for more information.