Marion will use leftover funds to shore up sewer pumps

Marion will use leftover funds to shore up sewer pumps

Bayou Vista, Sartini pumping stations to get upgrades

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion City Council gave its okay to spend the leftover money from a loan used to build the sewer pipeline to the Mississippi River to replace and upgrade sewer pumps at the Bayou Vista and Sartini pumping stations.

The city borrowed $5.1 million from Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to build the pipeline but still has $192,000 left over.

Since the money can only be used on sewer projects, the city’s water and sewer committee recommended the council go ahead and use those funds to upgrade the pumps.

“We’ve been looking for ways to spend that money,” said Councilman Jim Spence, who chairs the water and sewer committee. “What we would like to recommend is to replace and upgrade the existing pumps in Bayou Vista pumping station and use those pumps to place in Sartini which would improve it too.” Bayou Vista will be outfitted with new 60 horse power motors which will increase pumping capacity from 500 gallons a minute to 1,040 gallons per minute.

The old pumps will then be moved to Sartini Station to replace the existing pumps. This will increase pumping capacity at that station from 550 gallons per minute to 800 gallons per minute.

Bond Engineering estimates it will cost $150,000 for the new pumps and to move the old ones to the Sartini station.

The city will also use $35,000 to replace the pumps at Neely Station with new 15 horse power motors.

“This should pretty much use up the money from ANRC,” said Mayor Frank Fogleman.

By Mark Randall