City officials discuss water plant and make plans to solve issues

Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen has focused on some needed replacements and upgrades to the water plant and system during their last two meetings.

At the July 6 meeting, the board approved the solicitation of bids for replacing a 300hp high-service pump at the water plant. On July 20, the board authorized Hethcoat and Davis Engineers designing an upgrade for the flocculators and a processing system for water sludge solids at the water plant. The board also approved a $55,000 contract with Hethcoat and Davis Engineers to provide a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation required hydraulic water model for the water department.

Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the water plant is almost 50 years old. Some equipment needs to be replaced or updated. The water plant delivers water to the city and three surrounding utility districts. The plant processes up to four million gallons per day. The city expanded the water plant about five years ago, but some of the older equipment still needs to be replaced. TDEC requires the hydraulic water model before the water department can add one foot of pipe to the system. The water department can add taps and meters to existing lines but only add new lines when the model has been completed and approved. This restriction could hinder growth and impact the construction of new subdivisions.

The flocculator combines tiny, suspended particles in water to form flakes or larger solids that can be filtered from the water. These filtered solids enter a holding tank, where they form sludge. These sludge solids must be processed and removed as the tank becomes full. Then trucks transport the removed solids to an approved disposal site. The city has been paying approximately $50,000 to do this when needed. With a sludge solids processing system, the city would only need the end waste solids transported to the disposal site, significantly reducing the cost to the city.

In other business:

• The board postponed approval of a contract with Recreational Concepts LLC for consultation on the design and build for the “Splash Park.” The contract was still under review by city attorney Caroline Sapp. Mayor Jerry Lowery said the park will be located behind the YMCA, the site of the old Little League fields. He also said that no design has been approved yet, but there would be public bathrooms at the park. When asked if there were plans for future expansion of recreational services at that site, the mayor replied there was nothing else planned at this time.
• Police Chief Nick Dunn and Mayor Lowery presented Life-Saving Awards to Sparta Police Officers J.T. King, Justin Cunningham, and Austin Edwards. The officers rescued two kayakers who were trapped in the rapids at the water intake dam on the Calfkiller River. The officers combined dog leashes to form a rope they used for the rescue. As a result of the incident, all Sparta police cars are now outfitted with rescue ropes.
• The board authorized the city to participate in Public Entity Partners’ Safety Partners Grant program. City administrator Tonya Tindle said the grant is sponsored by the city’s insurer and is a 50 percent matching reimbursement grant. The city can spend a maximum of $3,000, and the grant will reimburse $1,500. The money must be used to purchase safety-related items and training.
• The board approved a surplus property policy to deal with seized and unneeded property.
• The board approved soliciting bids for various sizes of ductile iron utility poles for the electric department and for rock and gravel to be used by various departments.

Alderman Brent Young was the only absent board member.