Eureka Springs Director of Public Works Simon Wiley informed city council on Monday that he had been alerted to a Consent Administrative Order by Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality in 2019 for issues at the sewer plant, and he now had McClelland Engineering on retainer to fix those problems.
With a recent spill of wastewater into Leatherwood Creek, ADEQ requires a registered engineer to evaluate problems at the plant and how Public Works must proceed. They found an issue with control equipment that was low cost to fix, but after two site visits, McClelland has identified a need for spare parts on site and the firm is evaluating whether the sewer plant can maintain the current “nutrient and flow loading” coming into the plant. McClelland engineer Zane Lewis mentioned that a new screen would be needed to keep rocks out of the plant as the current screen is too damaged to be effective.
Bidding was waived as an emergency so that a new sewer pump could be purchased. Wiley explained otherwise the city would be waiting 2 – 4 months rather than six weeks. Alderman Terry McClung described the situation as having the city “by the shorthairs” as the total cost of the pump and repair is $54,000 with an attached $6,400 fee to expedite repairs. Alderman Harry Meyer pointed out that part of the $6,400 is for the pump.
Alderman Autumn Slane questioned if council should be budgeting for further costs and Wiley said that spare parts inventory is required. McClelland is currently making a list of needed spares for the city to reach out to other vendors. McClung asked how much would be needed, and Wiley said he is requesting in the 2024 budget increased I&I expenditure for the wastewater fund by $400,000, although Wiley said he was not sure it would be enough. He said by the budgetary process they’ll have a more concrete number.
Resolution 850 passed unanimously to replace the sewer pump for $54,051.08 from Evans Enterprises Inc.