JULY 27, 2020
Good afternoon –
City Hall reporting in…..almost the end of July already, and we are still in Emergency Operations mode.
Earlier in the week, we had a private contractor break a 12” water main line on the north side of Tampa Road, and it had the potential to be very serious, all over the city. Thankfully, our Distribution & Collection guys, led by Ben Pugh, Butch Adams, Joe Kernaghan, Cody Peters and supervised by Tim Jacobson, got the leak isolated within an hour, and cleared the way for the responsible party (FDOT) to come in and get the repair finished by the end of the night. Because of our employees’ fast action, the damage was very limited, and the precautionary boil water notice only affected 388 addresses, with flyers being distributed before dark, that evening. We are back to full operation now, and once again, I can’t tell you how proud I am of the employees we have without sounding like a broken record.
|
|
|
|
|
Members of the Distribution & Collection division working together during the water main break.
|
|
Most people, myself included at one time, drastically underestimated what goes into effecting a water line repair. The necessary skills can’t be fully appreciated, unless you are there watching all of what COULD happen. Of the three that I’ve seen in the past six months, I was amazed at the skills, strength and stamina shown by our guys and gals. The holes are dangerous, with other lines running through them, like stormwater, fiber, reclaimed, electric, and in some cases, even gas. If any one of the others is hit while trying to repair the one we know about, anyone in the immediate area could be badly injured or killed, with one wrong move. Our guys were on-site within 15 minutes of being notified from the RO Plant (low pressure). They isolated the location and section of the line that was leaking within an hour, and had it not been for their skills, the FDOT contractors would still be working it today. Several businesses were shut down (thankfully for less than a day), water was unavailable briefly (for about an hour), and westbound traffic on Tampa Road was backed up all day, with the worst of it being rush hour (flooding from the leak).
While I named a few of the guys that were on-site the entire time, there were many others involved in the teamwork required to get this done. The RO Plant, who discovered the problem, must be able to coordinate with the field throughout the incident and they handle the testing necessary before regulatory agencies allow us to rescind the boil water notice. Hydrant testing is involved, and our Technical Services division has to make on-the-spot decisions that affect the Fire Department and their ability to respond, to name a few other things that occur simultaneously or afterward.
The teamwork required to successfully respond and repair these things is WAY more than most people realize, and our guys/gals do it better than anyone. We have great leaders and incredibly skilled people. Remember their names, it's worth it. Whenever you need them, they always do MORE than what is required. Nowhere is that more evident, or needed, than during times like we are in right now.
I’m here to tell you that you won’t find more dedicated people in serving you, anywhere on the planet. Let’s appreciate what they do and how they do it…..with very little fanfare. Every time we have an emergency, they show up, ready to go, and always get the job done. Part of being in the Emergency Services business, but the time pressures and physical dangers go largely unnoticed. I am noticing, and I hope you do too. These employees are special.
Okay, enough of that stuff.
We are fully functioning, and things are going well. Still taking every precaution possible, and not forgetting what is necessary to get through this crazy time. Keep your family safe, and stay healthy. Interesting and useful reference information below to use as you see fit. Have a great weekend!
Al b
P.S. -
Due to technical difficulties with our email vendor, we were unable to send this message on our normal Friday schedule. We apologize for this inconvenience.
|
|
|
|
|
Receive alerts about emergencies and other essential City news by signing up for ALERT Pinellas - a FREE service to residents and businesses.
You choose how to receive alerts and can enter up to five different Pinellas County locations for notifications. An excellent resource during the Hurricane Season.
|
|
|
|
|
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
|
The Pinellas County 2020 All-Hazard and Hurricane Preparedness Guide is now available for pickup at City facilities. This publication contains vital information to help you properly prepare for a storm or other disasters - including agencies' contact information and social distancing options if you evacuate. The Guide is also available online.
|
|
|
|
|
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and continuous rain can create flood hazards - especially with high tide & storm surges. It's not uncommon to hear about projected flooding of areas. Knowing your flood zone will help you prepare & plan beforehand to protect your property.
|
|
|
|
|
In order to know when to evacuate, you need to know in which zone your property is located. Don't know? Don't worry - Pinellas County provides this specific information. Additionally, you'll see the closest shelters & hotel accommodations to help you plan ahead.
|
|
|
|
|
Sites across Pinellas County are offering FREE Testing for COVID-19. In Oldsmar, CVS, located at 3771 Tampa Road, provides drive-through and supervised self-swabbing - an appointment is required for CVS.
Health related questions can be directed to the Florida Department of Health Call Center, open 24/7 at
(866) 779-6121
or
COVID-19@FLHealth.gov
|
|
|
|
|
The Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is distributing FREE Face Masks. Masks are available Monday - Friday, 9 am to 12 pm at their Oldsmar office, located at 101 State Street West.
For more information, call their office directly at (813) 855-4233. Additional locations across Pinellas County are also offering this service.
|
|
|
|
|
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved an Emergency Ordinance requiring citizens to wear face coverings in most indoor public places, and restaurants/bars.
As Oldsmar is within the jurisdictional boundaries of Pinellas County, residents & businesses are required to comply with the Ordinance.
|
|
|
|
|
CARES ACT FUNDING EXTENDED
|
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved a new round of funding to support an even broader range of financial assistance for residents and families affected by COVID-19.
Pinellas County Residents who have lost jobs or have suffered significant income loss are urged to apply to help pay for overdue rent, mortgages, and utility bills.
|
|
|
|
|
SPACEcraft is designed to create and build a sense of community together.
Stop by and Make, Play, Read and Grow for FREE - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6 - 8 pm in the east parking lot of City Hall, 100 State Street West. Please note - social distancing will be practiced during each program.
|
|
|
|
|
The Tuesday, July 21 City Council meeting was held in the Council Chamber, with attendees practicing social distancing.
Couldn't make it? Don't worry. Meetings are recorded and published on the City's YouTube Channel.
|
|
|
|
|
STORY TIME WITH MR. ANTHONY
|
Did you know The Oldsmar Public Library offers 'Story Time with Mr. Anthony' - a series of animated videos to keep our younger residents entertained.
These engaging videos are on their YouTube Channel - be sure to subscribe!
|
|
|
|
|
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
|
The Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is designed to inform water customers about the quality of water and services delivered to residents each day. This report helps consumers understand the efforts made to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our limited water resources.
|
|
|
|
|
The annual Back to School Sales Tax Holiday will run from Friday, August 7 thru Sunday, August 9. Qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including certain school supplies, clothing, footwear, and personal computers.
For more information and a list of qualifying tax exempt items, visit the link below.
|
|
|
100 State Street West, Oldsmar 34677
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
