Spruce Pine staff update council on water-tank repairs, pump stations and recurring trash-related pump clogs

Town staff updated council members on a suite of water and sewer projects and operations challenges, including planned restorations, new tank work and recurring pump clogs caused by trash.

Staff said six projects were placed out for RFQ: one tank restoration, one new tank above MCHP and three pump-station projects. Staff also listed a project to replace undersized distribution lines in what the record calls the "spirits and pineapp" areas. "There'll be 3 projects in that for pump stations... and replacement of undersized distribution lines in the spirits and pineapp areas," a staff member (speaker 5) said.

The record shows staff scheduled a third-party tank inspection and paint estimate; the inspection visit was noted as happening on a Wednesday morning. Staff also described a specific repair timeline for the Mitchell High School tank after a post was driven through conduit and a DC converter burned out on a scale system; technicians were reported to be troubleshooting and replacing components.

Operations staff described recurring trash and pump-clogging issues at Shannon Drive and Sharon Drive that require multiple cleanings per week in some cases. "Sometimes we're having to pull the punches, Shannon, sometimes 2 or 3 times a week because they get trashed," an operations official (speaker 1) said, explaining the increased maintenance burden.

Staff also discussed available grant-funded work (AIA grant) at Willow Drive, completion of water mapping and smoke testing for gravity sewer systems, and plans to boost pressure in certain directions with new pump installations.

No formal votes or contract awards were recorded in the transcript; staff indicated anticipated bid-award timing (a June 17 extension and expected award soon after) for a specified waterline bid.

Next steps: Staff expects to complete third-party inspections, finalize RFQ responses and proceed to bid awards when schedules permit.