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Utilities director outlines lift-station options, higher costs and technical constraints
Summary
Andre Dusling, the city utilities director, told residents the Central Park lift station is over capacity and that off-site force-main work increases costs; staff outlined two candidate locations, explained trenching and gravity-line constraints, and set a Sept. 17 commission reconsideration.
Andre Dusling, the City’s utilities director, presented a technical assessment of the Central Park Lift Station and said the existing wet well is over capacity, requiring either costly off-site force-main work or a new relocated station.
"To make that reduced capacity work long term, we’ve got to divert some of that flow," Dusling said, explaining the need to extend force main lines and reroute flows. He said initial rehabilitation estimates (about $100,000) did not capture off-site work; newer staff analysis identified off-site force-main work that could add roughly $400,000 or more to make the current location viable.
Dusling described two candidate locations: a screened site near the Boy Scout/Girl Scout huts and a corner location at North 13th and Atlantic Avenue. He clarified that utility monies are enterprise (ratepayer) funds and cannot be diverted to parks. Staff estimated 4–5 months for engineering and permitting, with potential construction toward the end of 2025 and a return to the City Commission on Sept. 17, 2025.
Residents asked whether a deeper well at the current site would be feasible and raised concerns about property values, odor and visual intrusion; Dusling responded that trenching depth and gravity-collection geometry limit options and that construction would be disruptive regardless of approach.
