Sewer lift station problem a real stinker
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
It was a game of "here is the good news, but the bad news is
In the good news department, city administrator Jeff Benbook reviewed the approaching conclusion of the elusive mercury remediation search.
"Essentially, Kansas Department of Health and Environment has said, get rid of this part over here and you are done," said Benbrook. "The good news for us is that Integrated Solutions will be here to remove that area after Memorial Day and that will be the end.
"The other good news is that the last shipment to the Louisiana landfill of dirt and debris from the former sewer plant only cost the city $24,000 instead of the $60,000 we anticipated," he added.
The council's pleasure at that news was tempered by the message that problems at the lift station on Prairie Lawn Street will probably eat up every dollar saved from the mercury remediation process, and then some.
Recent heavy rains triggered the high water alarm at the lift station. When city employees arrived to address the problem they found that the seal alarm on one of the pumps also had gone off and storm water had overwhelmed the system.
Cable provided to lift the pumps from the depths of the lift station failed and one of the pumps fell back into the unit and was damaged.
The city was able to rent a portable pump in time to keep the lift station from failing completely and allowing sewage to back up into individual homes.
Benbrook said his calls to sewer project engineer Al Reiss were less than satisfactory and Reiss had not arrived to review the pumps and the situation although he had indicated to Benbrook he would do so.
"Apparently the plans were meant to include installation of grinder pumps," said Benbrook. "Grinder pumps more or less 'chew up' anything going through the sewer system.
"But the pumps we have out there are not grinder pumps, so nothing was ground up. Al (Reiss) said we should never take the pumps apart to service them or anything else," he added. "But they were completely plugged with foreign matter and not pumping sufficiently to clear the lift station.
"The vendor who provided the portable pump said they should have been serviced about twice a year. The lift station and equipment are two years old," said Benbrook.
"So now we have a real problem because the lift station needs to be functioning, we are paying to repair a damaged pump we may never use, the cable they installed was not heavy enough to do its job, and the temporary pump we are using will cost us thousands."
The council took no action. Benbrook said the city is looking at contingency plans to keep the situation from happening again. An emergency bypass system and a portable self-contained pump system are two of the options being considered.
Council members will receive more information and recommendations at the next meeting.
Benbrook also reviewed the deed to the property known as the elementary school parking lot. The city is responsible for maintaining and resurfacing that portion of the parking area that forms the "roadway" between Pine and Elm streets. The school district is responsible for the portion that comprises the parking area.
The city will work with the school district to create a permanent maintenance agreement based on the number of square feet in the "roadway" portion. The division of future maintenance and resurfacing costs will be based on that formula.
In other business, the council:
— tabled until a future meeting a request for a personal water well at 502 N. Olive. The homeowner did not fill out his application completely and his chosen contractor does not have a valid state license.
— refused a request by Gary Nesser of Florence to remove a locust tree on a vacant lot at 711 Sycamore.
— heard during public comment that Frank and Janice Woodruff appreciate the job being done by city employees Darren Pickens, Curtis Gray, and Harold Brooks.
— heard a security light at the new city shop has been installed by Westar Energy.
— reviewed a list of possible street resurfacing projects, their cost, and treatment options and agreed to decide on this year's resurfacing at the next meeting.
— refused a request by David Oursler for street lights on Newell Road between Ninth and Tenth streets. Three councilmen were opposed, Mitch Cunningham abstained.
— heard a report from Main Street director Kristen Hooper.
— approved three percent cost of living raises for returning pool employees and a 50-cent an hour raise for those who complete a water safety instruction course. Assistant manager Beth Peters will be offered an additional 50-cent an hour raise.
— heard the city audit May 7 and 10 went well. A formal report will be made at a later meeting.
— was told budget work meetings would begin after July 4.
— heard from Benbrook in his capacity as acting compliance officer that a list of nuisance properties and mowing violations has been compiled. Mowing violation letters are being held to allow extra time to mow after the heavy rains.
— heard from mayor Ed Slocombe and councilman Delbert Mellott about a two-day conference in Topeka they attended. The conference was put on by Kansas League of Municipalities for new council members. Both Slocombe and Mellott expressed felt they learned a lot and encouraged other councilmen to attend future meetings.
