Syracuse Town Council Approves More Time For Waste Water Treatment Plant
SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Town Council approved an additional 75 days for R.E. Crosby to complete work on the waste water treatment plant during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, April 19. R.E. Crosby is the contractor doing the rehabilitation work on the plant.
Jonathan Moen, representing Triad Associates, the engineering firm hired to oversee the rehabilitation work, explained once the north ditch of the plant was completed, the contractor was asked to hold off. Robin Merchant, public works superintendent, wanted to make sure the new equipment worked properly, any necessary adjustments made and staff trained on the new equipment before the south ditch was demolished. The process took about three weeks.
Merchant explained the plant had to continue to operate while the rehabilitation work was underway. Moen also requested a $57,000 change order for the dump station where trucks dump solids into the station. Water from the solids drains into the plant, while the solids are processed a different way. The dump station had to be moved since the plans of the current plant the engineers and contractors were using were not up to date.
Larry Siegel, council president, asked for a list of what needed to be done. Moen said within 45 days the north oxidation ditch would be complete, final paving would be finished and the piping needed for the washout basin would be installed.
An additional 30 days are needed to complete electrical work and the south oxidation ditch. Moen stated the project could be 100 percent complete by Sept. 12.
Councilman Bill Musser stated the work has to be done. “I see no reason not to move forward,” he said. Moen explained $48,427 would cover the cost of the dump station, which hasn’t been built yet while the remaining $9,122 is for electrical work Crosby already has done in preparation for installing the dump station.
Moen stressed all Triad has done is submit a design to Crosby to build. “Clearly the plant needs to be built and clearly there are better ways to do things, but you need to come to us first,” Siegel said. The change order and new completion date were both approved.
In his department report, Robin Merchant reported he would like to do a flow study of two outlets of Turkey Creek to see if flows exceed the contracted limits the town has with the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District. He requested permission to do one 30 day study during wet weather and one 30 day study during dry weather.
The two outlets in question are located on Medusa Street and serve Willow Grove while the other is located at Kale Island. It was noted the town services 800 sewer district customers.
Merchant requested permission to hire Commonwealth Engineers to conduct the study for a cost of $17,000. The council approved.
Merchant reported less than 110 water meters need to be replaced. He told the council upgrading the meters are helping account for water loss. The water department has found a large number of meters for businesses not working well due to age and being the wrong size for the job.
Merchant requested permission to spend $2,500 to have the north water tower to undergo a complete washout and inspection. Council approved.
He reported he also met with the contractor for the new elementary school regarding installing taps on the water main expansion on Kern Road.