Water, sewer and equipment updates: wells, lagoon, VAC-truck quotes and repeated main-line breaks discussed
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Summary
Council heard updates on well rehabilitation (Well 3 silt issues and pending acid treatment), near-final lagoon improvements, ongoing water-line breaks and a staff request to revisit funding for a VAC truck, plus an insurance valuation increase for town buildings.
Town staff briefed the council on several infrastructure and equipment matters that could affect near-term operations and budgets.
Wells and water conservation
Staff reported that Well 3 has heavy silt accumulation in the bottom ~60 feet and that contractors removed roughly 40 feet of material before encountering a hard obstruction; the next remediation step is an acid treatment. Staff noted the contractor's equipment may not arrive until August 25 and that full recovery could extend beyond Labor Day depending on results. Separately, Sunrise Engineering's water-conservation plan raises the reduction target to 21 percent; staff said the town has already achieved an 18 percent reduction to date and public hearings on the plan will be scheduled.
Sewer projects and easements
Council received a status update on sewer easement negotiations with multiple property owners and near-final reviews of the Farmland Avenue lagoon improvement package. Staff said some work is funded through CID/CIB and discussed the possibility of separating project bids so some work can proceed while easement issues remain unresolved.
Recurring water-line failures and replacement discussion
Public Works described recurring breaks on an older main that have required frequent repairs and tank refills. Council asked staff to analyze replacement options (including bed replacement and full pipe replacement) and look for potential CIB grant opportunities to fund a longer-term fix rather than repeated patch repairs.
VAC truck procurement
Staff presented vendor quotes for a VAC (vacuum/combination) truck and reported a new unit priced at about $600,000, a used unit at $289,000 and a dealer quote at $229,000. External partners (county, Dutch John and Daggett Water District) did not commit funding; council asked staff to explore internal reserves and consult with the town auditor about feasible funding approaches and a possible letter of intent from partners.
Insurance valuation
An insurance assessment increased the town's estimated building values from $3,390,074 to $3,719,094 (a 9.71 percent increase), which could affect premium calculations and budget planning.
What happens next
Staff will 1) pursue the well remediation timeline and report on acid-treatment results, 2) analyze main-line replacement options and potential grant funding, 3) re-check savings and funding options for the VAC truck and report back to the council, and 4) publish public hearing notices on the water-conservation plan.