Water woes persist (9/28/04)

DUNKIRK — Proposals and options aimed at improving the quality of city water were once again major topics of discussion for council members here Monday night.

For the second council meeting in a row, Mayor Sam Hubbard suggested spending $5,750 to employ Commonwealth Engineers Inc. of Indianapolis to evaluate the water department facilities and recommend “a course of action to alleviate problems associated with water discoloration and water quality deterioration.”

Hubbard said, “I think Commonwealth could help us out,” pointing out he had met with several representatives from that firm. Such an evaluation would be helpful, he said.

However, none of the council members came forward to make a motion to pursue the idea, and the matter was eventually tabled.

Meanwhile water department superintendent Dace Mumbower reported that since the last council meeting when he reported that two city wells were not functioning properly, city workers had been able to purchase equipment and make the necessary repairs to put one of those wells satisfactorily back in service.

The second well needs to be cleaned, probably at a cost of between $5,000 and $6,000, Hubbard said. Mumbower said the well had been rated to pump 120 gallons per minute, but it was only producing 61 gallons per minute at present. This is very low for a municipal well, Mumbower said.

Also, he reported that some recent iron level readings reflected decreases at the plant but there were still problems relating to the city’s older water lines having rust deposits.

“So the output is better, but we’re still having a problem — probably within the lines,” council president Dan Watson said.

Mumbower said in his personal opinion, the filters at the water plant needed to be larger.

Hubbard said it would be a good idea to have the filtering system evaluated by an engineering firm. Watson responded that perhaps the city should contact the Bonar Group of Fort Wayne, which acted as the city’s consulting engineering firm when the new ozone-treatment water plant was built about two years ago.

Meanwhile, Mumbower said he was still waiting to receive reports about more testing procedures which have been conducted at the plant in recent days.

In tabling the Commonwealth proposal, Hubbard said that unless water conditions improved, he would probably introduce his request for an engineering evaluation again at the next council session.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, council members:

•Approved using funds from the city’s Rainy Day Account to purchase a used pick-up truck at a price not to exceed $2,500 for the animal control officer. City officials said the current truck has major mechanical problems. Council members designated Watson to work with animal control officer Butch Parfitt concerning the purchase of the used truck.

•Tabled action until the next council session on awarding a contract and setting a schedule for autumn leaf collection dates. Council members have received a proposal from local resident Ted Darr to perform this service, and Watson agreed to contact officials at BestWay Disposal Co.

•Approved sending Assistant Fire Chief Ferral Wells to a training class on fire department building code inspection procedures. The class will be conducted in Portland, he said.

•Granted approval for computer program upgrades for the utility bill payments for the clerk-treasurer’s office at a cost of $5,200, and for the Dunkirk City Court record-keeping procedures at a cost of $6,500.[[In-content Ad]]