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Clayton approves stainless-steel repair for south wastewater tank, hires new operator
Summary
Town council approved a $76,390.32 stainless-steel divider repair for the wastewater plant’s south tank, authorized coating work on the east tank, and voted to hire Mr. Ashford as wastewater operator starting June 1. Council discussed inspection, funding and regulatory compliance steps for the plant.
The Town of Clayton council on May 8 approved a $76,390.32 contract to install a stainless-steel internal divider wall in the south tank at the town wastewater treatment plant and agreed to proceed with cleaning and recoating work on the east tank. The council also voted to hire Mr. Ashford to begin wastewater operations June 1.
The vote to replace the failed divider in the south tank followed a multi-month review. Mike Novak, a representative from the state rural assistance program who toured the plant with council members, said outside specialists and county staff judged that the tank did not yet require a full structural rehabilitation. Novak and wastewater consultant Mr. Penner recommended repairing the stressed divider and stabilizing the concrete shell instead of a complete rehab.
Council members presented two quotes from JMR Excavating: one for a stainless-steel divider and one for mild steel with coatings. Council moved forward with the stainless option; the contractor estimated about three weeks for fabrication and installation after opening the tank, the council was told. The council approved the stainless-steel wall by voice vote; the motion was made and seconded and the chair announced the motion carried.
Members also discussed a lower‑cost maintenance option for the east tank that would remove loose paint, clean surfaces, and apply a protective coating rather than a full rehabilitation. Staff said the coating would include a 10‑year warranty on the coating work; council asked staff to seek additional quotes and confirm warranty scope before final contracting.
Council reviewed funding options and existing reserves. The town’s operator reported available funds for routine repairs but the transcript contained inconsistent figures for reserve balances; the council asked staff to provide a clear accounting of the depreciation and operating fund balances before larger capital decisions. The operator and council also noted that delaying repairs can increase long‑term costs.
Council discussed inflow and infiltration (I&I) issues tied to recent rain events. Town staff reported a sharp but short spike in flow during heavy rain, which prompted questions about connected downspouts or sump pumps and whether to repeat smoke testing. The council directed staff to prepare a customer notification reminding residents to check downspouts and sump pump hookups and to include guidance on how to identify a connection, and to coordinate further smoke testing or manhole inspection data as needed.
Council members reviewed several operational improvements at the plant: an active alarm system that sends high‑level warnings, plans to install variable speed drives or timers to save electricity, and follow‑up on a recent fire department inspection that flagged signage and secured gas cylinders. Staff said they would coordinate with the fire department on emergency access and on whether the town should rely on the fire department’s SCBA (self‑contained breathing apparatus) response rather than maintain its own SCBA equipment in‑house.
On staffing and contracts, the council heard competing service proposals for plant operations. After discussion, a motion to hire Mr. Ashford as the plant operator beginning June 1 carried; the chair said the hire would include a transition period to allow knowledge transfer with incumbent operators and coordination of external contractors for maintenance.
Why this matters: The wastewater plant is a core town utility; decisions on repairs, coatings, vendor choice and staffing affect compliance, operating costs and service reliability. Council members emphasized balancing near‑term fixes with the town’s maintenance budget and upcoming state regulatory requirements.
Council action and next steps: Staff will (1) finalize and execute the stainless‑steel divider contract, (2) collect and present additional quotes and warranty details for the east tank coating, (3) provide a corrected fund‑balance report for depreciation and operating accounts, (4) prepare a customer advisory about downspouts/sump pumps and options for smoke testing, and (5) manage the transition with Mr. Ashford and outside contractors.
