PINEVILLE — At the Pineville Utility Commission meeting on Tuesday, the board discussed an unpleasant additive present in the city’s water supply.

Commission member Joyce Dozier and Mayor Sherwin Rader voiced concern about a strange residue they have found in glasses and bathtubs after draining city water. The culprit, according to utility manager Bill Bunch, is a new combination of treatment chemicals that have been used since the construction of the new water plant. Bunch explained that the phosphate in the chemical compound used by the plant is likely stripping residue from water pipes and finding its way into the water. Though harmless, Bunch assured commission members that the distribution of chemicals will be re-worked until the level of phosphate reaches a better balance, which should eliminate the problem.

Bunch also updated the board on the upgrades scheduled for Kentucky Avenue. Bunch is optimistic that all necessary improvements can be completed within the project’s allotted budget. He also suggested to the board that the community be addressed regarding the project’s details, so that city residents will know what to expect during the renovation.

“Once the project is bid, I’d like to schedule a night or weekend meeting or two for local residents,” said Bunch, “probably in January.”

Announcements will be made regarding the meeting upon scheduling. Regarding other utility projects, the OTB lift station project is nearing completion and the Pine Mountain State Park booster pump station and waterline replacement endeavor was finished Tuesday.

Bunch also reports that the budget for both utilities are healthy, despite some large expenditures that occurred last month. The replacement of a few ruptured water mains and air filter/dryers in the backwash system were among October’s unexpected expenses, but yielded a minimal effect on the annual budget.

Lorie Settles is a correspondent for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her via e-mail at correspondent@middlesborodailynews.com.