Edmore council hears lagoon corrosion report; repairs could cost tens of thousands

Village Manager Mark Borden told the Edmore Village Council on May 12 that engineering reviews show accelerated corrosion in structures on the outlet side of the primary wastewater lagoon and that repairs will likely require concrete lining and valve work.

Borden said Fleis & Vandenbrink, the firm that designed the 2012 improvement project, “stands behind their design” and does not believe the lagoon cover is the primary cause of the corrosion. He reported that an independent review by Prein & Newhof noted the most extensive corrosion on the outlet structure and that the neighboring lagoons appeared darker and more septic than typical.

Plummers Environmental has provided a proposal to line the concrete structures and to inspect or replace valves and piping. Borden said the council has preliminary cost estimates that put concrete lining between $25,100 and $34,500 and valve parts and piping at a minimum of $8,000, with a worst-case replacement estimate of $40,000–$50,000 for valves, piping and installation. He said the exact scope for valve replacement requires lowering water levels and pressure-cleaning the valves to determine whether parts or full replacements are needed.

The manager described the sequence of next steps as: obtain contractor quotes, dewater and inspect valve assemblies, and then return with firm estimates. No formal action was taken at the meeting; council discussion focused on budgeting and obtaining competitive quotes.

The report signals a near-term budget decision for the village: the repairs are capital work the council will need to fund or schedule, and any replacement of multiple valves could shift the cost toward the higher end of reported estimates. Borden also reported other concurrent public-works work including a new water line inspection at Ryan’s Equipment and quotes for a driveway expansion at Quicksilver Lane.