Woodbury Water System To Get Upgrades

Water and trees were among the items discussed by the Woodbury Board of Mayor and Aldermen during its monthly meeting Tuesday night.

The major item discussed was needed improvements and upgrades to the town's water system, including the Water Treatment Plant and the Bradyville Pump Station.

Estimated cost of both projects is $550,000. Mayor Harold Patrick said because the Water Dept. has a reserve balance of over $2 million, it will not be necessary to borrow money to fund the project.

Anthony Pelham, an engineer with James C. Hailey & Company Consulting Engineers, told the board the Water Treatment plant needs basins and surge tanks.

"Currently, Woodbury has been cited for inadequate back wash capabilities, and the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) discharge permit allowing discharge to the river has expired. All filter and sedimentation drainage, sludge, and backwash water are required to be discharged to the sewer collection system. Thus the problem is two-fold. Back wash capacity at the WTP needs upgrade, and the current best available drain causes peak flows that risk washing out the Sewer Treatment Plant. The proposed construction will alleviate these problems," Pelham said.

Cost of the Water Treatment Plant project is estimated to be $470,000.

Regarding the Bradyville project, Pelham said the water booster station has served its useful life and now due to hydraulic capacity restricts the ability to serve as well as flow and pressure to customers that depend on its service. Line extentions and growth beyond the pump station at this point are limited, and future demands are projected to exceed the pump station's capacity, thus necessitating at minimum replacement and upgrade of the existing pumps and controls. These upgrades should meet a 20 year target window before complete replacement, electrical, and piping upgrades become necessary.

The Bradyville projected is estimated to cost $75.000.

After hearing from Pelham, the board approved the drafting of two resolutions, one for each project, that it will vote on at its May meeting in order for the proposal to move forward.

In other business the board:

• Appointed a committee to meet with the Stones River Watershed Association to discuss issues rekated to hundreds of trees recently planted at Dillon Park.

• Approved requests to hold a 911 Expo and a Reading for Fun Day at Dillon Park on June 4 and June 23, respectively.

• Adopted on final reading Ordinance No. 438, and ordinance to amend Title 7, Chapter 3, of the Woodbury Municipal Code, giving the Fire Chief authority to invoice insurance companies for expenses related to fighting fires within the corporate limits.

• Discussed communications problems that exir between the Woodbury Fire Department and Cannon County volunteer fire departments. The town and county use different radio frequencies It as determined that calls for assistance would be broadcast on dual frequencies until the county modernizes its system later this year.