by Geoff Fox
Hancock officials discussed replacing the water meters at Hancock Middle-Senior High School and Elementary School during the July town meeting last Tuesday, July 11.
Town Manager Mike Faith said there had been talk in the past about having a contractor come in and do the work but he didn’t know the reasoning behind that idea.
The meters are located inside the actual schools, unlike residential and other commercial buildings, where the meters are accessible outside.
Faith asked if town officials had a problem with leaving the meters in the schools. Washington County Public Schools pays the water bills for the schools, Faith said, and the town wouldn’t have to worry about shutting off the water if they weren’t paying the bill.
“It would take quite a bit of work to move them out,” he said. “I don’t see a problem with leaving them in the buildings.”
Councilman David Kerns said there wasn’t much they could do.
Kerns said there is a water line just below the high school that had recently been fixed and is about 12 feet deep. That’s where the schools’ tap is located for the water lines.
“We don’t want to tap in there and put a meter in down there,” Kerns said, getting agreements from other officials.
Kerns wasn’t sure how the schools’ sprinkler systems line is set up, though, it may branch off at another point.