WEST POINT – During a Thursday evening work session, the West Point City Council discussed the city’s recent water main break on Roper Avenue, updates to the mobile food vendor policy the city is considering adopting, updates to an intergovernmental agreement that would allow the city to use Troup County Sheriff’s deputies to help augment the West Point Police Department’s current low numbers and a number of other new business items in preparation for the upcoming city council meeting on Monday evening.

West Point Utility Director Sammy Inman spoke to the city council and mayor, relaying additional information from the water main break that occurred on May 3 at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Roper Avenue. The leak was substantial, and caused water pressure in parts of the system to drop to dangerously low levels, which ultimately resulted in a boil water notice that lasted until May 5.

“This was no different from any other leak, other than where it was, which made it a little more difficult to navigate,” Inman said. “We pulled out some tricks we don’t normally pull out to get that leak stopped that fast.”

The leak was located underneath 1305 Roper Avenue along the main line between the city’s water treatment plant and the lower pressure zone water storage tanks. The rupture caused the pressure in the lower pressure zone of the system to drop sharply, as pressure was being lost through the ruptured hole.

Inman and city officials received praise from the city council, who shared their appreciation that the line was repaired as quickly as it was.

“I was there. I was impressed with the response. You guys always do a fantastic job,” Mayor Steve Trammell said.

In other business, the city council discussed the adoption of the intergovernmental agreement for providing law enforcement services, which will be on the agenda for Monday night’s meeting.

“We have asked for assistance from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office to supplement our current lack of officers,” City Manager Ed Moon said. “The sheriff will assign up to two deputies who will provide patrol services.”

The term of the agreement, if the council approves on Monday, will run from May 16 to August 16 of this year. Captain Kevin Carter of the West Point Police Department spoke at the meeting, highlighting the current need of the city for additional law enforcement officers.

“For various reasons we don’t have the manpower to adequately give the citizens of this city the attention they deserve when it comes to crime suppression and response time,” Carter said. “After next Wednesday, we will only have six West Point police officers on patrol. We’re slotted for a minimum of eight, two per shift. This (intergovernmental agreement) will allow us to add a (Troup County Sheriff’s) deputy to fill in the empty slot on two shifts. One officer on patrol at a time is just inadequate and unsafe.”