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Council tables wastewater-treatment screw-press engineering request pending ROI analysis
Summary
Council tabled a staff proposal to authorize $400,000 in engineering for a screw-press dewatering system at the wastewater plant, requesting a payback and haul-off analysis before reconsideration at the July 13 meeting.
City staff proposed adding a screw-press dewatering system at the wastewater treatment plant to reduce sludge hauling and disposal costs; the council voted to table the engineering authorization until staff can produce a payback analysis.
Gerald described the proposed screw press as a conveyor that squeezes water from sludge and can increase solids content roughly four to five times, significantly reducing hauling and disposal costs. He said the engineering work under discussion would cost about $400,000; estimated construction and equipment costs discussed in the meeting ranged from about $2.1 million to $2.5 million depending on scope.
Council members pressed staff for a return-on-investment calculation showing how many haul-off loads would have to be avoided to recoup engineering and construction costs and whether reallocating funds to pay down principal on loans would be a better use. Staff agreed to prepare forecasting that accounts for expected near-term growth at the plant and to return on July 13 with the requested financial analysis.
Because the council did not have the payoff timeline or haul-off calculations available, a motion to table the item until the July 13 meeting passed unanimously.
