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Martinsville staff report furnace failure at wastewater plant; repairs restore operation for now
Summary
City staff told the Board on Jan. 12 that the Headworks Building furnace at the wastewater treatment plant failed but was temporarily repaired; staff will assess whether a full replacement is needed and expect a repair bill.
City staff reported an equipment emergency at the Martinsville wastewater treatment plant during the Board of Works meeting on Jan. 12.
Mister Dunn said the furnace in the Headworks Building failed, causing freezing issues for equipment and processes that occur upstairs. He said a contractor (not the city's usual vendor) was able to get the furnace running, buying the city time to assess the unit's remaining service life. "The furnace went out... The good news is it is running, and we have a little more time," he said.
Dunn told the board he plans to obtain an honest assessment of the furnace's remaining life and may recommend replacement later. He said a repair bill is expected and criticized the prior vendor, saying that company "wasn't getting the job done," which prompted bringing in another contractor.
No formal procurement or replacement decision was made at the meeting; the report was informational and will require subsequent staff recommendations if replacement or formal contracting is pursued.
