Dunkirk plant has adjusted

DUNKIRK — The city’s wastewater treatment plant has implemented some changes to help address its chloride issue.

Dunkirk Board of Works and Public Safety heard an update about the city’s efforts to combat an abundance of chloride in the plant’s discharge.

It also discussed issues with several city vehicles.

This year, superintendent Larry Wright has been working to reduce the amount of chloride produced by the wastewater treatment plant. Chloride cannot be treated with a chemical, so the cause must be identified and rectified. It could be a problem with wastewater from local businesses or an issue at the plant itself.

Recently, Wright has increased pumping at the plant to twice a day — first thing in the morning and then at the end of the day — which could help reduce chloride.

“Hopefully we’re going to be able to tell the difference here pretty soon, if it’s helping or not helping,” Wright said.

Also on Thursday, the board discussed a couple of the city’s vehicles that are in need of repair.

A 2000 truck used by the water department is having transmission problems. Additionally, the police department’s Tahoe — which was thought to have a hydraulic valve lifter issue — actually has a bent push rod. The city is looking into whether the damage is covered by the vehicle’s warranty.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins said he will take a closer look at the budget and the city departments’ needs to determine the possibility of buying new vehicles, as the repairs for both vehicles could be costly.

“If we’re going to get new vehicles, I think it had better be this year,” Robbins said. “I’ll try to get some prices together.”

In other business, board of works members Dan Watson and Robbins, absent Lisa Street:

•Paid $1,510 to LEA-AID Acquisition Company for police investigation equipment.

•Heard that there will be a plan commission meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the new Glad Tidings Church building.

•Learned that the street department has been clearing brush from alleyways and filling potholes throughout the city. The department will also be sprucing up the “Welcome to Dunkirk” signs.

•Heard that accounting firm Baker Tilly is making progress on a stormwater rate study, which was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. The study was approved in March to determine the proper rates and procedure for creating a stormwater utility fee.