Hi! Here I am again! Thanks to all of you who have been so kind in your comments about this column.

Many of you have asked questions about the sewer work being done on the Alabama side. The sewer line work is being done through a $400,000 grant award to the Ardmore Water Board (the board is matching this grant with $1,200.00). The grant requires the work be restricted to the Alabama side only. The Tennessee side must apply for a grant and has done so. Approval has not yet been received, and this grant will also require matching funds. I will let you know if we receive the grant.

Water is a critical issue in our Town and City. Our wells have limits, both in terms of gallons of water available and adequate pressure. Proper pressure must be maintained to meet the requirements of the fire prevention sprinkler systems in our Ardmore High School, Cedar Hill School, and our various industries serviced by the Ardmore Water Board. You also expect adequate pressure in your homes. The pressure depends on the proper operation of the pumping equipment and the available water that is there to be pumped. In these dry summer months, when we experience our usual lack of rain, we must be careful in our use of water. Yes, our lawns are beautiful when they are green, but pretty lawns are not critical to our lives.

You are probably familiar with pay schedules based on such things as job duties, training, and experience, and these items are applied to all the employees of any given company. There is also a job performance review (usually once a year) and if it’s a good review, the employee receives a merit raise.

Do you know that Ardmore’s Town and City Councils have talked about a pay schedule program for years and nothing has yet been accomplished.

So, it happens that some of our municipal employees get merit raises while others do not. Why? Because there are no required performance appraisals and some supervisors turn in requests for merit raises while other supervisors choose not to.

So, some employees are making more per hour than other employees who have more training and a more demanding job with more responsibilities. Is this the way we should treat Ardmore’s hard-working employees?

I want to take this opportunity to say “Welcome to Ardmore” to our new business. Please visit and support these folks.

Until next time, here’s looking at you...

Alderman Laurene Schrimsher

P.S. Don’t you love the way our adults set the example for our children and youth.