The Thorsby public water works controls were manually operated after lightning struck one of the water wells on Sunday, April 24.

The town council discussed the situation during Monday’s meeting. City employees worked overtime to keep the water flowing throughout the town and to the city of Jemison.

“No one was without water,” said public works director Terry Jackson. “By the end of the week, we will be 100 percent.”

The strike damaged the well’s operating systems and burned a motor — parts were found on the floor and the door was warped and hanging off its hinges, Jackson said.

“If someone was in that room they would have been hurt,” Jackson said.

So far, the town has paid out $14,502.98 on repairs not including overtime and labor.

“We will probably have another $10,000 bill coming in,” said Jackson.

The town is looking at an approximate total of $30,000 for all repairs, said Mayor Dearl Hilyer.

“We’ve had a lot of bad lightning strikes, but this was one of the worst,” Jackson said.

In other business, Hilyer reported he had spoken with CSX representative Slade Stevenson regarding the railroad-crossing project. The project is on CSX’s schedule to begin the first week in August 2011.

“The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has nothing to do with it anymore,” said Hilyer. “Everything is up to CSX.”

If a work crew from CSX becomes available earlier, the project could be moved up.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the trucks pull up and then get started,” said Hilyer.

The council passed the fair housing resolution No. 212 as part of the deal attached with the reconstruction of the West Medical Center Drive Bridge project.

The resolution states it is the policy of the town of Thorsby to implement programs to ensure equal opportunity in housing for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or family status.