Committee advances $194,080 Aquascreen rebuild to protect wastewater plant

Assistant Service Director Mike Testa described the Aquascreen as the wastewater plant’s upstream conveyor screen that removes large debris to protect downstream equipment. "Basically, this was located where all the inflow came into the plant and was a large screen that moved, somewhat like a vertical conveyor belt designed to remove any large debris from the incoming wastewater, e.g.: disposable wipes, rags, other non-flushables," Testa said.

Testa presented legislation to contract with Andritz to rebuild the Aquascreen at an estimated cost of $194,080 and asked the committee to suspend and call so a purchase order could be issued quickly. He said a new replacement unit would cost about $500,000, making a rebuild the more cost-effective option; the line item was budgeted at $220,000. Staff estimated parts would arrive in roughly two months and the rebuild would require about one month of out-of-service work, with operations maintained by manual debris removal in the interim.

Chairman Tom Stugmyer and Service Director Matt Hiscock questioned lifespan and maintenance history; Hiscock said this was the first time the unit had been replaced during his tenure. The committee voted to forward the ordinance to the council agenda; Council Member Zach Berger moved and Council Member Chris Maxwell seconded, and the motion carried.