The Kenai City Council passed an ordinance that would increase estimated revenues and appropriations in the Water & Sewer Fund for operational costs in excess of budgeted amounts at the wastewater treatment plant. Several events have transpired resulting in unanticipated expenditures for the Water, Sewer, Waste Water division of the Public Works Department and this ordinance aims to restore the affected accounts to allow normal operations to continue through the fiscal year.
Director of Public Works, Scott Curtin told the Kenai City Council that one factor was the dump truck the department was using:
“The challenge right now is we’ve got a lot of variables that there’s things happening down there with this change that’s difficult at this time to determine how much certain things are saving us. For example, the dump truck, the way that our process down there works, we had to back it and park it directly underneath two conveyors that dumped directly into the truck. The truck was our one source. We had the sludge press which dumps into it and then we have screenings. The screenings are very wet, which adds weight to the sludge. We pay by the ton that goes to the landfill. With this change, we actually have a separate smaller dumpster, which is picking up the screenings, which eliminates the water that we’re adding, which means the sludge, we’re able to take more sludge, essentially dryer, less weight, going into the landfill at a higher disposal fee. The wetter screenings are going into a separate smaller dumpster. They’re able to get disposed of as normal household trash at a lower weight. We’re going to need a period of time into what that looks like after six-to-twelve months to really understand how that change is. Demand, as you know, changes seasonally.”
In addition, the department received word in July, shortly after a June 2021 fire that severely damaged a chemical manufacturing facility in Longview, Washington, that chemical shortages would be imminently expected. The DEC reached out and requested that the department do everything possible to remain within permitting requirements. As a result, staff begun placing calls to source materials to secure a temporary supply of sodium hypochlorite.
Increased appropriations in the amount of $9,892 for operating, repair & maintenance supplies and $30,000 for professional services has been approved by the Kenai City Council.
3252-2021