David Abner

St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church asked the Bath Town Council at their January 16 meeting to abandon a section of Liberty Street near the church.

Attorney Bill Harmison, representing the church, presented a draft ordinance to the council. If they agree, the town would abandon ownership of 3,781 sq. ft. of an unpaved portion of Liberty Street.

Police Chief Jim Minton presented his case for a K-9 program at the Bath Town Council meeting on January 16.

"Most people think a K-9 dog is just a drug dog, but this dog will do much more," Minton said.

Judy Gray and Vera Walls opened Gray Walls Market in December at the former Wayside Market on Valley Road, north of Cacapon State Park.

Walls and Gray previously worked as manager and assistant manager at the ROCS Shell Station, just south of Berkeley Springs.

Bath Town Council held a special meeting on Monday, January 8, to approve payment of water project expenses and to review police department issues.

Police business

Thomas G. Hall faxed his resignation to the Bath Town Council shortly before the council met on Tuesday, January 2.

Hall's letter said he was resigning from the Bath council due to "job related responsibilities with the City ]of Martinsburg, along with my inability to participate with regularly scheduled meetings as a council person should."

A backflow prevention device being installed on water lines as part of the water line replacement project may cause water customers to have problems with their hot water tanks. Pressure may build up inside a hot water tank that causes the emergency relief valve to open releasing water.

So far, four water customers have been affected. When water is heated, it expands causing increased volume. The old water line system allowed excess volume to flow back into the main line. The new water line system prevents backflow because the system is designed as a closed loop and includes backflow prevention devices.