Turrell finds short-term fix for sewer pond problem

Turrell finds short-term fix for sewer pond problem

Wapanocca to the rescue with loaner bridge

news@theeveningtimes.com

Turrell may have found a solution to part of its problems with the city sewer pond.

Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge has offered to lease Turrell a railroad car bridge to use to get to the pond.

The pond is in bad shape from years of neglect and is not draining properly. And to make matters worse, the city has no access to get to the pond other than across privately owned farm property, which the owner does not want the city crossing.

The old bridge the city used to get to the pond was removed in 2009 because it was falling down.

Mayor Dorothy Cooper said Wapanocca has a spare bridge the city could use as a short-term fix until they are able to come up with more funding to build a new one.

“We were offered a bridge for a loan,” Cooper said.

“So we are looking in to that.”

Cooper said she is considering the offer and that the lease would be for up to five years.

“We’re still exploring it to see what the best avenue would be,” Cooper said.

“We would have the bridge for five years, but if we did any damage to it we would owe them money. And they are going to want it back.”

The city tried to do some work on the pond last summer but the fields were too muddy and the levee isn’t stable enough to hold the weight of heavy equipment. The main pipe at the pond isn’t draining properly because of a beaver dam obstruction and will need to be cleaned out with a backhoe.

Cooper said the city will need several loads of gravel to stabilize the levee.

Turrell recently was awarded a $51,100 grant from Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to use toward building a bridge.

However, it is estimated it will cost about $100,000 to repair the pond. Cooper said the city just received $100,000 from an insurance claim for a sewer pump which burned up and is still looking to build a new bridge.

“We do have that money available,” Cooper said.

But before Turrell can get any more money from the state for its sewer woes, the city needs to complete a financial audit of its water department.

“The state wants to make sure before they give us any more money that we are able to handle what needs to be done,” Cooper said.

By Mark Randall