Council approves estimate request to repair missing safety switches at upper lagoon aeration

The Lumberport Town Council voted Feb. 3 to request an electrician estimate to replace missing power-box safety switches that serve the town's upper lagoon aeration system. The motion was moved by Councilor Judy Cleavenger and seconded by Councilor David Bennett; the motion carried.

Quality Water Services (QWS), in its monthly operations report, told the council that a wastewater exceedance for ammonia nitrogen occurred after the lagoons iced over and that several pieces of lagoon equipment need repair, including mixers in Chambers 1 and 3. QWS also identified the missing safety switches as a priority; the council approved seeking an estimate so the work can be scoped and priced. QWS noted January drinking-water sampling and the monthly operational report were submitted without issue and that a separate paperwork violation from August related to chlorine and turbidity will be addressed with a public notice by Oct. 15, 2025.

QWS reported additional operational items that require follow-up: parts for high-service pump #2 are not currently available, a ridge vent on the chemical feed building was blown off in December and temporary roof repairs remain in place, and routine flow-meter calibration remains pending. QWS asked the council for direction on how to proceed where replacement parts are unavailable. The council did not set a specific date for the electrician estimate to be returned but approved getting an estimate to inform next steps.

The action was recorded as an explicit motion during the Water & Sewer report and will be tracked as part of ongoing maintenance planning for the wastewater plant.