Staff Writer

JONESVILLE - Water will be a major priority for Jonesville‘s new town council.

Elected in April, council held its first meeting Tuesday and Mayor Ernest Moore discussed issues he feels should be a priority over the next two years. One of those is water and Moore said council should work on getting a grant to extend water lines on Chapman and Cedar Grove roads.

Council also heard requests from residents of Littlejohn, Parks Farm and Robinson Farm roads asking that the town's water lines be extended there also. Moore said that will depend on whether or not the town can obtain grants to finance the projects. He said the town will begin working on getting those grants immediately.

Feasibility study

In a related matter, Moore said the town has received a $12,000 grant from the State Budget and Control Board for a feasibility study on linking the sewer systems of Jonesville and Union.

Originally projected to cost $40,000, the town's engineers informed council in March that the study would only cost $12,000. State Rep. Mike Anthony arranged for the town to apply for the grant to cover the entire cost of the study. Moore said the town received the money last week and the engineers again confirmed that it would cover the entire cost.

The primary focus of the study will be the feasibility of linking the two systems for the purpose of industrial development. It will also look at the possibility of Jonesville sending its municipal waste to Union - a move which town officials say could result in tax reduction - and the possibility of linking the town's and the city's water systems.

Clean Up

Moore also announced plans to mobilize residents in an effort to clean up the town. The plan would involve dividing Jonesville into four sections. Each weekend a different section would be cleaned.

Assignments

Moore also announced which council members will oversee which of the town's four departments: