July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Site sought for sewage sludge (11/9/04)
Portland needs land to apply by-product of sewage treatment
If an agreement can be reached with a local farmer and a permit obtained from a state agency, it’s possible that sludge from the Portland Wastewater Treatment Plant will be spread on county-owned land beginning next year.
Bob Brelsford, superintendent of the wastewater plant, talked with Jay County Commissioners about the request Monday afternoon.
Brelsford, who said the sludge is currently being disposed of at the Jay County Landfill, asked the commissioners about instead spreading it on county-owned farm ground near the Jay County Retirement Center and Jay County Highway Department northeast of Portland.
The sludge, which was spread at the Portland Industrial Park until October 2003, is high in both nitrogen and phosphorous. John Knipp of the Jay County office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service told the commissioners several weeks ago that an analysis of the sludge showed no toxic materials.
Crystal Chapman, an operator at the wastewaster treatment plant, said this morning that the sludge, which has had the bacteria removed, has a slightly musty odor. When applied, it is knifed into the ground.
Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr. said they would like to talk to Jim Dues, who farms the land, about the request.
If permission to spread the sludge is granted, it could mean planting wheat next fall on some of the ground and possibly leaving some idle.
If permission is granted by the commissioners, Brelsford said the city will apply for a permit for land application of the sludge to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. That application normally takes eight-plus months to process, Brelsford said.
Brelsford said he would appreciate a decision “the sooner the better.”
The county owns a total of 360 acres on the north and south sides of county road 200 North around the retirement center and highway department. Precise information on how much of that ground is farmed was not available.
Brelsford the city would like to have 120 to 140 total acres available, with about 60 or so acres used each year.
Also Monday, the commissioners opened four bids for a dump truck for the highway department, with just one of those bids appearing to meet specifications.
That bid, from Selking International of Muncie, was the highest but was the only truck with a Cummins diesel engine as called for in the specifications. That bid was $72,361.44.
Since the rest of the department’s engines are Cummins, that engine was requested to make repairs easier for the department’s mechanics.
“That means we have to pay $9,000 more for one with a Cummins,” said Miller.
The bids were taken under advisement, and the contract will be awarded next week.
Bids also were received from: General Truck Sales (Volvo engine), $69,025.60; Wabash Ford Sterling (Mercedes-Benz engine) $63,920; and Kinstle-Sterling (Mercedes-Benz engine) $65,146.[[In-content Ad]]
Bob Brelsford, superintendent of the wastewater plant, talked with Jay County Commissioners about the request Monday afternoon.
Brelsford, who said the sludge is currently being disposed of at the Jay County Landfill, asked the commissioners about instead spreading it on county-owned farm ground near the Jay County Retirement Center and Jay County Highway Department northeast of Portland.
The sludge, which was spread at the Portland Industrial Park until October 2003, is high in both nitrogen and phosphorous. John Knipp of the Jay County office of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service told the commissioners several weeks ago that an analysis of the sludge showed no toxic materials.
Crystal Chapman, an operator at the wastewaster treatment plant, said this morning that the sludge, which has had the bacteria removed, has a slightly musty odor. When applied, it is knifed into the ground.
Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr. said they would like to talk to Jim Dues, who farms the land, about the request.
If permission to spread the sludge is granted, it could mean planting wheat next fall on some of the ground and possibly leaving some idle.
If permission is granted by the commissioners, Brelsford said the city will apply for a permit for land application of the sludge to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. That application normally takes eight-plus months to process, Brelsford said.
Brelsford said he would appreciate a decision “the sooner the better.”
The county owns a total of 360 acres on the north and south sides of county road 200 North around the retirement center and highway department. Precise information on how much of that ground is farmed was not available.
Brelsford the city would like to have 120 to 140 total acres available, with about 60 or so acres used each year.
Also Monday, the commissioners opened four bids for a dump truck for the highway department, with just one of those bids appearing to meet specifications.
That bid, from Selking International of Muncie, was the highest but was the only truck with a Cummins diesel engine as called for in the specifications. That bid was $72,361.44.
Since the rest of the department’s engines are Cummins, that engine was requested to make repairs easier for the department’s mechanics.
“That means we have to pay $9,000 more for one with a Cummins,” said Miller.
The bids were taken under advisement, and the contract will be awarded next week.
Bids also were received from: General Truck Sales (Volvo engine), $69,025.60; Wabash Ford Sterling (Mercedes-Benz engine) $63,920; and Kinstle-Sterling (Mercedes-Benz engine) $65,146.[[In-content Ad]]
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