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Council hears warning on sewer metering and authorizes repairs after fire station flooding
Summary
Foreman Spencer Cumley reported a failed jet pump ($8,773 quote), an effluent meter reading that jumped from ~30,000 to ~130,000 gallons, and a water-control malfunction that flooded the new Fire Station; council authorized immediate repairs and directed staff to pursue a temporary sonar meter rental to diagnose the effluent discrepancy.
Pawnee City’s public works foreman told the council Sept. 22 that the city is facing urgent operational issues at the sewer plant and with a recently completed fire station.
Foreman Spencer Cumley reported a jet pump failure with a replacement quote of $8,773 and said the sewer plant’s effluent meter has shown a sudden increase from readings near 30,000 gallons to roughly 130,000 gallons, a discrepancy that could distort the city’s NPDES discharge reporting and future plant-sizing decisions. Cumley said he recommended renting a Sonar meter from GPM (previously quoted at about $3,900 for a week) to cross-check readings and determine whether the partial-flume meter is reporting erroneously. He told the council that JEO had previously recommended a full effluent pit rebuild at an estimated cost near $1.2 million, but that Cumley wanted an interim diagnostic before considering such a major reconstruction.
Separately, a computer/controls communication failure caused loss of well controls and water pressure that in turn left a backflow/check valve stuck closed at the new Fire Station; about three inches of water accumulated in the station before the issue was found. Cumley said FireGuard of Omaha provided a quote of $490 to make the required repairs; volunteer firefighters had vacuumed standing water and placed fans to dry carpet.
Clerk Tamela Curtis said the state advised the city that a boil order was not required; the system is being chlorinated and the city will take two State-required samples 24 hours apart. Council asked staff to pursue repairs and the temporary meter rental and to report back with findings and cost estimates.
No formal vote was recorded to authorize large capital work; council approved the immediate repair work and directed staff to return with procurement details for any major project.
