City hears proposal for improvements to waste treatment plant
Monday, October 15, 2012 - Posted 8:14:12 PM
The Minonk City Council was given a proposal for upgrading the city's waste water treatment plant. Bob Kohlhase of the Farnsworth Group recommended that the city abandon the current mechanical treatment with a lagoon system that uses biological processes to treat the waste water. Kohlhase said the lagoon system would result in an 82% reduction in energy cost and reduced man hours needed to maintain the waste treatment plant.
The current mechanical system was built in 1955 and the current lagoons were built in 1977, the last major addition to the waste treatment plant. Currently, there is a large primary lagoon and a secondary lagoon. The proposal would replace the existing lagoon aerators with a fine bubble aeration system in both lagoons. In addition, the existing sand filters would be rehabilitated and the chlorination system would be automated. Other improvements would include new lighting, fencing, grading and repairs to structures and piping.
The cost for the improvements is estimated to be$1.5 to $2 million. The City could receive a loan from the EPA for the project if they approve the plan and if the city's median income is low enough to qualify for a low interest loan. The design life of the proposed treatment plant is 20 years.
City Administrator Gary Brennan said to keep the current mechanical system for waste water treatment puts the City at risk for heavy fines if the system eventually breaks down and water quality cannot be maintained.
The Council gave approval to pursue refinement of the plan in preparation for submission to the EPA and also for ways of funding the project. Kohlhase said it is possible to have the project ready for bids by July of 2013 if the project moves forward in a timely fashion.
Water treatment plant generatorFarnsworth representative Kohlhase told the Council it needs to consider buying a generator for providing backup power to operate the water treatment plant and a well pump during extended power outages. This would prevent draining the water tower during power outages. The generator project was first discussed in 1998 and has been revisited through the years.
4th Street sewer separation projectThe Council also learned of the 4th Street Sewer Separation project. This involves adding another pipe to discharge water to relieve the load on the 6th Street Pump Station.
Nuisance property to be boughtThe council approved a motion to purchase the property at 822 Chestnut Street for $7209.47 with TIF funds. The property was purchased years ago at a tax sale and the owner wanted to dispose of the property for what he had invested in it. City Administrator Gary Brennan said the City plans to demolish the house. The detached garage is in good condition and will be spared from the wrecking ball.
Fundraiser for Parks & Rec.Parks & recreation chairman Rich Luckey asked for the Council's approval to purchase a golf cart that would be given away in a raffle. Luckey said they can buy a 2006 golf cart that is in almost new shape for $4000. He said the plan is to sell 400 raffle tickets at $30 each and have a drawing in January to determine the winner of the raffle. Luckey said the raffle would raise $4000-$4500 that would be used to make enhancements to the ball fields at Veterans Park.
City Administrator Gary Brennan said he is waiting to hear from the State and the City Attorney to determine if the City can use tax money to purchase an item for a raffle. If it violates a state law, then the other option is to buy the golf cart with proceeds from the raffle. The Council decided not to make a decision until feedback is received from the City Attorney.
City Administrator Comments
City Administrator Gary Brennan thanked local contractor Dick Meierhofer for use of his lift in doing repairs to the baseball backstop.
Council Comments
Alderwoman Julie Redenius thanked everyone who attended the Pumpkin Patch in the Park festival and to those who volunteered to make it a success. She also thanked the city workers for the sidewalk ramps put in this summer.
Mayor's Comments
Mayor Bill Koos thanked Alderwoman Julie Redenius and the volunteers who helped make the Pumpkin Patch in the Park festival such a success. He also said the city has electrical workers looking into the cause of the lighting outages in downtown this past week.
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