Repairs to Turrell sewer pond begin

Repairs to Turrell sewer pond begin

‘ I’m so happy I think I am going to dance on it,’ says mayor

news@theeveningtimes.com

Work has begun on fixing the long neglected sewer pond in Turrell.

Mayor Dorothy Cooper said crews cleaned out a ditch and installed a new culvert, and are currently spreading loads of gravel to create an access road to the pond.

“We had to get that bridge put across there first,” Cooper said.

“That’s what this culvert is for. And after that is done we can get over there and level out the area around the pond.”

The sewer pond has been out of compliance with state environmental regulations for the past decade. Regulatory agencies have been threatening the city with fines if the problem isn’t addressed which could run into the thousands of dollars.

The original bridge to the pond was removed around 2009 because it was falling down and the city had to use private property to get to the pond.

Cooper said the levee walls around the sewer pond will also need to be fixed because the pond has a leak.

“We’re still going to need to do some leveling at the actual pond and then fix the breach on the pond wall,” Cooper said.

The drain pipe will also need to be fixed because it has been clogged by beavers.

Cooper said once the walls are built up the city will be able to get heavy equipment in there to do the work. The pump will also be replaced.

The city received $100,000 from its insurance to replace the burned out pump, and a $345,000 grant from Arkansas Natural Resources Council to do the dirt work.

Cooper said she is thrilled to see progress finally being made on the sewer pond.

“I’m so happy I think I am going to dance on it,” Cooper said. “Just to have this bridge to walk across is great. It has probably been ten or more years that we have been out of compliance. I started working on this in January 2016. So I am very happy.”

By Mark Randall