Plains Council OKs $530k bid to remove wastewater sludge

The Plains Council on Oct. 3 discussed bids to remove and dispose of wastewater sludge from the old treatment plant.

The bid to remove the material came in at $530,000. Councilman Joe Banham, questioned the high cost of the bid.

Sheri Johnson, a consultant on the project, said via a video conference call, that samples from the estimated 13.4 million gallons of sludge needed to be tested before a final type of disposal method could be chosen. The sludge may need to be treated before it could be used as fertilizer on fields or crops.

Johnson said that the bid would have been much higher if a local landowner wouldn’t have been found to spread the material.

A contractor to remove the material is available this fall. Mayor Dan Rowan expressed his concern that if the town waited until next year to remove the sludge that the cost could be even higher with the uncertainty of fuel prices.

Council members voted to approve the bid.

Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Rowan gave an update on the completion of the roof repairs of the town office building. Rowan said that it had been repaired several times over the years, but the problems with drainage had never been addressed. He said the slope was redesigned during this last repair.

Rowan gave an update on the possible sale of the old water treatment property, adding that he had contacted a Realtor about the property values. The subject will continue to be addressed in future meetings, he said.

Police Chief Brian Josephson stated that the reserve officers donated 102 hours of time in September. Josephson is also training a new class of reserve officers, with 12 hours completed in September.

Rowan also spoke about the need to update the town office’s electrical system.

The only public comment was made by Charles Bicenheuser, concerning the future growth document that he submitted to the town council members. No further action was taken on the document.