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Council hears maintenance report on sludge processing and multiple resident water complaints
Summary
Maintenance staff reported progress on sludge-processing infrastructure and pump repairs; residents raised multiple complaints about brown water, sediment after breaks, meter placement and drainage problems; council promised follow-up work and contractor outreach.
Brooklyn — The council received a multi-part operations report and several resident complaints about water quality and drainage during its public-comment period.
Maintenance supervisor report: Staff said the sludge-processing site is prepped except for one dumpster removal and that a pump at Station Two was removed for diagnosis; the pump had about 20 hours of use and was reported to be under warranty. Blue River Technologies supplied five geotextile (geoexile) bags and a 155‑gallon drum required for sludge processing, and polymer pump parts were delivered and installed after an internal failure. Staff said only two loads had been taken by a contractor (Merill Brother) and that dumping permits are being renewed. The supervisor asked to be informed proactively about contractor activity and said he would take a more active role overseeing lift stations to avoid communication breakdowns.
Resident complaints and follow-up: Multiple residents described recurring brown or discolored water and sediment entering homes after water-main breaks, and one resident said the problem has persisted for years. Council members noted older distribution mains and the challenge of line replacement and said they would pursue site visits and consider hiring contractors to reroute a problematic feed and relocate meters in a low spot (a "dip") that traps sediment. Staff asked residents to file work orders and said they would escalate and follow up; one council member volunteered to coordinate an initial contractor contact.
Stormwater and paving discussion: A resident asked why an estimated $53,000 design/permitting line item in a community-crossing grant could not be replaced by smaller targeted repairs; staff explained that core sampling and reconstruction are required for full roadway rebuilding and that some work is not avoided by piecemeal repairs. The council asked staff to investigate lower-cost options and report back.
Next steps: Staff agreed to contact contractors promptly to address the meter/dip issue and to provide status updates to affected residents before the next meeting.
