Marion finalizes sewer plans

Marion finalizes sewer plans

New line, upgrades to pumps on tap

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion water and sewer committee will recommend the city build a force main sewer line from Sartini Street pumping station to the city sewer pond and to upgrade the pumps at two pumping stations.

The city had been looking at the option of installing bigger pumps at Sartini, Bayou Vista, and Neely Street stations at a cost of $232,000. Upgrading the pump at Bayou Vista with a larger motor would not be necessary, however, if the city goes ahead and builds a force main line.

Sartini pumps to Bayou Vista and would not need as big a pump at Bayou Vista if the city diverts that flow by building the force main.

The city got bids on upgrading the pumps but had 75 days to accept or reject them. Instead, the water and sewer committee asked Jack Bond of Bond Engineering to come back with an estimate for a force main line and revised cost estimates if they decide not to upgrade the pump at Bayou Vista as originally planned.

According to the new estimates, upgrading the electrical system and motor at Neely, installing a bigger pump at Sartini, and building the force main line from Sartini to the sewer pond will cost about $608,000.

“Our low bidder came back with some numbers for changes if we want to put larger motors at Sartini than were bid, leave the pumps and motors alone at Bayou Vista, and advertise for bids to divert the load from Sartini directly to the sewer pond, which would require a larger motor,” said Mayor Frank Fogleman.

Fogleman said the water and sewer committee also decided not to go ahead and build a new pump station near the intersection of Airport Road, College Boulevard and Hwy. 64. A new pump station would cost about $848,000.

“We don’t see that as an option,” Fogleman said.

“We all acknowledge that Neely Street needs attention. So the recommendation is we do Neely Street, and we have instructed Bond to prepare design work to submit to the health department for approval, and advertise for bids to bring the force main out of Sartini with bigger pumps and motors and leave Bayou Vista alone.”

Fogleman said the city will use the remaining $190,000 from a loan from Arkansas Natural Resources Commission on this project plus money from the bond which voters approved refinancing in March. The bond will generate $16 million for capital improvement projects — $360,000 of which are for water and sewer projects.

“So if the estimate is accurate, we have a roughly $190,000 head start on it and the bond money will cover the balance.

By Mark Randall