Zack Musgrove from Thrasher Architecture, Engineering and Field Services addressed the City of Parsons Council regarding changes to the long-term control plan in the sewer improvement project designed to address shortcomings found by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The updates were part of the City’s regular meeting.
According to Musgrove and City of Parsons Attorney Tim Stranko, the DEP had discovered some “shortcomings” with the City’s sewer system. These issues were related to CSO signage issues and CSP outlet screens, as well as an unreplaced 24-inch line, according to Musgrove.
The 24-inch line at Pulp Mill Bottom had initially been part of a previous project, but was not completed due to budgetary constraints, Recorder Tim Auvil said. The need to replace the line has been known for some time, according to Auvil and suggested it be added to the current project as an item of importance.
Musgrove said the line will need additional CCTV inspection. The CCTV camera inspection is designed to view the line and determine the current state of repair the line is in, according to Musgrove.
The changes are designed to not only address the issues raised by the DEP, but also to help the City avoid paying a fine, according to Stranko. However, the changes will add an additional $500,000 to $600,000 to the total cost of the projects, according to Musgrove. “We’re glad you guys are on the team,” Stranko said. “We want to make sure we don’t have to pay a fine.”
While the shortcomings were found, Stranko said that an official order has yet to be received by the City. Stranko also said that once an official order to comply is received, the City will negotiate with the DEP to address it at that time. “They are looking at that. They will respond,” Stranko said. “We will negotiate the order when we have to comply.”
The items of concern to the DEP are being addressed with the current project and any concerns not able to be immediately addressed by the improvement project, will be added to an amended long term control plan, according to Musgrove. The control plan is scheduled to be updated following the completion of the project, according to Musgrove. No timeline for completion is currently available, Musgrove said.
