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SALEM -- The utilities commission received updates on the ongoing water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Dean Stokes said that the primary lid for the anerobic digestors had begun installation, and was being welded in place, and that the secondary lid had been painted and was also ready for installation. Stokes and Utilities Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson also expressed concerns over a lack of heat ventilation within the new pondus control system building, with Stokes noting that the plant's headworks building has experienced issue with heat buildup to the extent of requiring fans be used for cooling at times, and the pondus system control bank is larger than the headwork's.
Project Manager Bob Schreiner said that the building is meant to have air conditioning and would review the matter with project contractor Stanley Miller Construction. Schreiner said he was also working with Stanley Miller to determine the timeline for project completion as the arrival of the main gear, which was previously expected to arrive in March, had been delayed even further and now is not expected to arrive until July.
"They're going to be basically 100% done with everything else by July for sure actually mostly by April, except for restoration, so it'll be that one item and hopefully it'll just be a process for electrical stuff to get switched over and commissioner, but I don't know if that's a month or six weeks, so I'm going to get back with [the OEPA] tomorrow one way or another and just let them know what's going on," said Schreiner.
Drew Paul of Benesch Engineering said that discussion with the contractor was also necessary for the water treatment plant upgrades. Paul explained that project contractor A.P. O'horo wants to make changes to the design of the mixing system's suction line.
"They would like to increase the size. The suction line is currently 12 inches, and they want it to be 16 inches to reduce velocity to the pump. I'm currently working through that with them to see why they didn't tell us that during design, and we're possibly going to look into an approved equal of Hayward Gordon pumps, and I didn't want anyone to be caught off guard if a change order comes up about that stuff," said Paul.
Utilities Superintendent Butch Donnalley said he wanted to hold a meeting between himself, Paul, and Water Treatment Plant Manager Larry Sebrell to ensure all three of them were on the same page regarding the project.
Hodgson also asked Sebrell if he could provide the water treatment plant's elevation as the department was looking to acquire flood insurance for its buildings and the elevation of the property was necessary for the process, and Sebrell said he could send the information to him.
The meeting concluded with an executive session for the discussion of legal matters with no action to follow.
The utilities commission will meet next 4 p.m. Nov. 21.