Last week the Town of Tishomingo got its new above-ground sewer pumping station operational, the last in a series of improvements that brings Tishomingo’s sewer treatment infrastructure up to date, says Mayor James Tennyson.
This newest piece of the system replaces a pump that was installed 43 years ago. It collects all wastewater in south Tishomingo and pumps it with two 10-horsepower pumps to the gravity system near the middle of Town, where it is then transported to the sewage treatment facility west of town. Total project cost was $169,000 and it was paid for by grants, said Tennyson.
This new pump, one replaced two years ago at the Walker Street pump station, and another one north of town near TBEI brings the system up to date.
“Should be good for another thirty years,” said Tennyson. “And these were paid for by grants.”
You might think new sewer equipment is not that exciting, but people get real excited when this equipment stops working, said Tennyson.
The town is also working on cleaning up above ground, working with local residents on getting dilapidated structures, inoperable vehicles, and abandoned houses cleared away to improve the quality of living for all the folks in town, explained Tennyson.
“Some letters will be going out, asking people to clean up their properties, and if that doesn’t work, they will be invited to a public hearing with the board,” he said. The town can end up cleaning up a property, working through channels allowed by state law, but it’s more expensive, and the cost still is up to the property owner. The town is allowed to attach costs for that kind of work to the tax bill or the property.
The town recently modified its zoning ordinance, strengthen its rules about not allowing new single-wide manufactured housing, and defining “tiny house” rules to ensure quality, permanent dwelling meet certain standards.
“You can park your RV in your driveway, but you can’t live in the RV,” explained Tennyson. And apparently, there are a couple of cases like that in town they are addressing.
Similarly, the town just strengthened its loose dog ordinance, increasing the fines for third and any additional incidents to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail, similar to what other towns have done.