The Trenton Board of Public Works agreed to have additional work done on a report complied by the engineering firm of Burns and McDonnell concerning improvements planned at the city’s wastewater treatment plan in an effort to see whether or not the scale of the project can be reduced and a cost savings realized.
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During a meeting on Thursday night, the board voted to spend up to $5,000 to have Burns and McDonnell do the work, using information provided by ConAgra Foods, which requested the city look at alternatives to the planned project. According to Trenton Municipal Utilities Director Chad Davis, ConAgra is looking at ways to reduce the costs it will incur by making improvements that will be required as part of the overall project. ConAgra is the largest user of the city’s wastewater system and it is their waste, along with new federal regulations, that has resulted in the utility making the wastewater system upgrades. Residents in Trenton will vote on Nov. 7 to decide whether or not to issue bonds for the work.
ConAgra is looking at two scenarios in which it could reduce the amount of waste it puts into the system and wants to find out how that would affect the cost of the city’s wastewater project. Davis noted that ConAgra has not made a firm commitment in doing either of the waste reduction proposals, but feels that company officials are serious in doing what they can to make the project as cost-efficient as possible for all parties.
BPW chairman Phil Hoffman noted that the project will be done and noted that the November bond election is actually a vote as to how the utility will finance the work, not if it will do the work. The board has indicated in the past that the use of the state’s revolving loan fund, which is the issue to be placed before voters in November, is the most cost-effective. It is the same financing mechanism used by the city for sewer system improvements in the late 1990’s.
Davis reviewed a presentation that will be made to members of the public at various meetings during the next two months, explaining the project. Included is the need for the work as well as proposed improvements, financing alternatives and the impact and benefits to customers. The cost of the project will dictate future sewer rate increases, which the board has estimated at around 75 percent. Those increases would be implemented over an 18- to 24-month time period.
Under the 75 perecnt scenario, the average residential wastewater bill would increase from $14.09 to $24.66 per month. This compares to rates of $21.04 for Chillicothe, $22.80 for Moberly, $22.51 for Macon and $21.35 for Marshall l(based on 2006 charges).
The board approved two bills from White Cloud Engineering for work it has done for the utility. Included is a $12,222.41 bill for waterline relocation in the jail area and water service as well as a $33,265 bill for work on the Washington Street sanitary sewer.
A tree trimming bid from Smith Tree Service of Milan was approved at a rate of $85 per hour. A surcharge may be assessed should fuel rates go above $2.70 per gallon.
The board discussed the cleaning of a fuel tank at the north substation. Davis said that while the top and sides of the tank are in good shape, the bottom of the tank has become pitted. Various ways in which the tank could be repaired are being looked at and a recommendation will be brought back to the board. There is a second tank at the site containing around 35,000 gallons of fuel. Davis said he expects the utility to use most of that fuel over the winter months and once the fuel is gone, the tank will be cleaned. The board discussed whether or not two tanks are actually needed, but took no action.
There was discussion concerning sewer testing being done in various parts of town. Davis said that testing was done last week on the sewer at First Street and some clean out work has been done. Some problems were also found with the sewer at Ninth Court and Grant Street and the utility is trying to determine how to make repairs.
In other business:
• Davis reported on the recent MoPEP meeting and presented information from the APPA.
• The board was asked by City Administrator Kerry Sampson to consider holding a strategic planning meeting this winter based on information gleaned from a city council retreat held earlier this month.
• The board was told an evaluation training is being held by the city’s liability insurance carrier, MARCIT, for all department heads and employees who are in a supervisory capacity.
The next meeting of the board was set for Tuesday, Oct. 24.