Wartrace stays in touch with text-messaging program

Jessica Doak with Bedford County EMA, standing, demonstrates the emergency calling system to the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen. From left are Doak, aldermen Scott Claxton and Thomas Hurt, Mayor Don Gallagher, and aldermen Jean Gallagher and Ed Simpson. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

April 1 will mark the first anniversary of the day Wartrace got the bad news about its unacceptable water quality, and the town's elected officials have learned a lot since then. One facet of the "boil" emergency was disturbing to Mayor Don Gallagher.

"We sent home notices from the school," he said at Monday night's meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen. "We announced it in the newspaper and on the radio, and still there were gaps."

Making sure everybody gets important information as soon as possible was one reason there were special guests at the meeting. Scott Johnson, director of the Emergency Management Agency, Jessica Doak, also with EMA, and Steve Mallard, IT manager and senior CIT instructor with the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, were there to demonstrate an electronic alert system.

"The university community calling system came about especially after the shootings at Virginia Tech," said Mallard. "They wanted a way to notify a lot of people at once."

The idea appealed to him, but the cost of the systems already designed, he said, ran between $15,000 and $20,000.

"So he wrote the program himself," said Johnson.

Gallagher said that instead of citizens calling 911 when there was an emergency, the town would be able to call them. Or, actually, text them.

"It's set up for cell phones," said Mallard. "It's worked with every brand we've tried."

Citizens can voluntarily register their cell phone numbers and other information with the town. Then, if there is an emergency, the town will text them, explaining the emergency and what steps they should take.

"I can send about 2,000 texts in 20 seconds," said Mallard.

Mallard is donating the software to Wartrace and he and EMA workers will provide a free training seminar for the town employees. As soon as the system has been tested and "goes live," residents will be invited to register.

Those without cell phones would still have to be called manually, said Mallard.

Resolutions passed

The board passed three resolutions pertaining to the recently awarded $425,000 grant for the water system upgrades, including one confirming the new water rates.

"We've already passed these water rates with an ordinance," said Gallagher. "But they (the state) asked for a resolution. It's to show rates will be sufficient."

All three resolutions, he said, were matters of "Housekeeping."

"It's very rare to get a 100 percent grant," said Gallagher, adding that most grants require the town to provide matching funds. A representative from the state said the resolutions were just a way of making sure all of the paperwork was there and in compliance with the grant specifications.

The first of the resolutions was a formal acceptance of the grant, which is being used for the Wartrace-Tullahoma Utility Board water connection and related water line work. The second resolution the state requested was a loan resolution and dealt with the town's responsibility to raise or borrow the matching funds -- even though there aren't any.

Sidewalk stalled

Phase I of the city's sidewalk project has been stalled because two homeowners on the intended path haven't signed the easement forms, said Gallagher. Originally, he said, it was thought that the area where the sidewalks would be placed were on state easements and there would be no problem. When that proved not to be the case, homeowners were approached, but two continue to withhold their permission.

"It's really a disappointment to me," said Gallagher. "I don't know anybody who wouldn't want a sidewalk in front of their house."

Besides improving the property value, he said, the sidewalk is a safety issue. This phase leads from the downtown area to the park, a path already heavily traveled by children. The project itself would employ local people, he added.

"We're doing everything we can to be accommodating," the mayor said. "But if they don't sign, the project dies."

The town also approved a motion to send Police Chief Lee Groce to a first responder class that costs $150.