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Washington Board of Public Works: repairs completed after sanitary inspection; water and wastewater projects delayed by parts and revenue constraints
Summary
At a routine Board of Public Works meeting, staff reported they sealed tank overflow flaps after a sanitary inspection, described long lead times for replacement parts, outlined plans to redesign a collapsed 1963 drain field under a drying bed, and said an apprenticeship and monitoring program will start in March; the board approved minutes and adjourned.
The City of Washington Board of Public Works on Tuesday reviewed routine utility operations, reported corrective work after a sanitary inspection and discussed timing for water and wastewater projects as parts lead times and revenue availability delay upgrades.
An unidentified staff speaker told the board that a June sanitary inspection found overflow flaps on treatment tanks that were not fully sealed. "The overflow flaps were not securely closing off the overflow flap," the speaker said, and staff sealed the screens and published notice after filing the report two weeks late; Jefferson City issued a reprimand for the delayed reporting.
On equipment, staff said replacement motors and pump parts are on order but face lead times. "The parts for the pumps are still, like, three weeks out, and the belt press that we're rebuilding is still, like, 18 weeks out for parts," the speaker said, adding that work will begin as parts arrive. The speaker also described a plan to rebuild a concrete drying bed/sludge-storage area but said the schedule depends on revenue availability.
Staff reported a structural failure in the drying-bed drain field originally built in 1963. "The drain field has collapsed and stopped working," the speaker said; the proposed redesign would add a slightly sloped floor with a front drain trough to channel flows back into the plant's influent wet well but timing is contingent on funds.
The board heard that a planned Missouri Rural Water Association apprenticeship will be held in March for local operators. "They're going to bring 14 of them, and we're going to take our 12, and we're going to put all of them out on the West End of town and monitor the West End of town through the class," staff said, describing anticipated monitoring benefits for that area.
On inspection equipment and street work, staff said a needed sewer camera was found in good condition so immediate replacement is unnecessary, and that a future slip-lining of Front Street is planned when bypass pumping is available. For drinking-water infrastructure, staff said bids were solicited to replace the downtown Main Street water line (similar to prior work on Second Street) and that sequencing with Front Street work will depend on contractor schedules. The speaker noted hydrant feeds downtown would be upsized from 4-inch to 6-inch service lines to improve fire protection.
Staffing was described as fully staffed at present, but one employee expects to retire again in about three and a half months, prompting a future personnel adjustment. The board also discussed scheduling the next meeting (the next scheduled meeting was noted as Dec. 31) and logistics for refreshments.
Procedural actions at the meeting were limited and routine: an unidentified member moved to approve the minutes, a second was recorded and the board voted in favor; later, a motion to adjourn carried unanimously. No ordinances, resolutions, contracts, or budget votes were taken at this session.
The Board of Public Works adjourned after wrapping up routine updates; the next scheduled meeting was noted as December 31.
