West Memphis Utility eyes 2017 projects

West Memphis Utility eyes 2017 projects

Maintenance, upgrades on the schedule for next year

news@theeveningtimes.com

West Memphis Utilities has a busy schedule of projects for 2017. Big-dollar maintenance and updates were put forward as part of the budget for City Council to consider for the new year. Utility Commissioners reviewed the projects and referred it to the Council with the company’s budget package.

Painting the Mid-America water tank towered over other projects on the list with an expected expense of about $400,000. Painting the water tank between FedEx and the new Sediver facility has been part of the budget before with money set aside to do the work according to Assistant Utilities Manager Todd Pedersen.

“The Mid-America tank was actually in this year’s budget,” said Pedersen.

“We did not get around to getting it bid out. It’s a $400,000 job. We have the money transferred over into the checking account.”

Commissioners put the paint job onto a line item to move it forward in 2017.

Upgrades to the Utility’s fueling station were lined out by Pedersen as well. A short list of projects centered at the Cooper St.

plant.

“The fueling station up grade is for the plant,” said Pedersen. “They need to replace there A/C recovery machine and Engineering needs to replace the mobile unit antenna.”

Waste water projects were part of the plan too. Work at the South Loop facility was outlined for Commissioners

by Pedersen and

Waste Water Director Paul Holloway.

“We will rebuild the pump station,” said Pedersen.

“We have $300,000 in there. The equalization station overflows. We are loosing capacity. We are going to drop it ten feet and have a new pump redesigned so it drains properly.”

“It will be a concrete coffer dam,” said Holloway.

By John Rech