Water Division Manager Craig Mullinax told the utility’s board of directors Friday that 4.73 inches of rainfall was recorded at the utility’s stations in May. We are tracking along at about the 2006 to 2009 average,” he said.
“Last year in May, we had about 10 inches of rainfall,” emphasized Mullinax. He said despite the recent rains, we are still about 7 inches below last year’s total into May.
Mullinax did concede the recent rains hit in varied places. “It’s a hit and miss (proposition),” he said as to where the utility’s rain gauges are located. “But, gauges are gauges,” he added.
Other Water-Sewer business:
n Mullinax brought the board up to speed on progress of projects at the Cleveland Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Installation of the centrifuge procurement system is more than 80 percent complete.
The Water Division manager said the system will be out of service for a period of time for the final stages of the project. The contract for this part of treatment plant improvements is for $98,000.
The final stages of the utility’s automatic biosolids conveying system is being done in house, according to Mullinax.
Arcadis did the project’s design at a cost of $65,800; the equipment was purchased from Moyno for $65,000; preliminary construction was by Arcadis at $10,000 and concrete construction by Cherokee Construction Company is continuing on a $34,924 contract.
n The relocation of utilities along the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Dalton Pike widening project is continuing. This project is being paid 100 percent by TDOT.
GRW has the design and construction services contract, and is 83 percent finished with the work. The contract award to GRW was $218,977.
n The utility is involved in a trio of sewer collection projects, including one on Minnis Road in east Cleveland which will serve the county’s new Park View Elementary School when it opens for classes this fall.
“All the pipe is in,” said Mullinax in relation to the Minnis Road work. He said there is a slight slowdown with progress through a wetland area.
Mullinax projects the work will be completed at the end of June. “The new school wants to be able to use this sewer system,” he emphasized.
East Tennessee Grading has two contract on this job, one for $264,271 and another for $233,882. Cleveland Surveying did the design and construction services at a total of $79,000.
The two other sewer projects are at Exit 20 and Westland Drive.
Roy Joe Angel Construction has a $665,664 contract for the construction at Exit 20, but is only about a quarter of the way into the work. Mullinax said the tie-in is complete and they’re now boring under the roadway.
Mayse Construction Co. is about finished with construction on Westland Drive, a $85,350 contract. This project will require the repavement of a section of Westland Drive.
In an added project, 800 feet of one-inch line just off Westland Drive was replaced to eliminate problems.
n East Tennessee Grading has started the rerouting of a waterline near Cleveland’s new general aviation airport. According to Mullinax, two tie-ins went well.
n Meter sets continue well below the average of previous years. The utility is averaging 21 meter sets per month, down compared to 27 per month a year ago, 42 in 2007-2008, 53 in 2004-2005 and a high of 57 per month back in 1998-99.
n The Water Division manager said progress is being made on the utility’s self-imposed moratorium in the Wildwood Road area. The overall cost of the improvement project is expected to be $44,430.
Mullinax said two or three things which contributed to overflow problems in the area have been targeted. One manhole has been rehabilitated and the sewer line along 9th Street is to be improved.
n Repair (upgrades) to one of two raw water pumps at the treatment plant is nearing completion and the pump is expected to be returned by June 13. The other pump, which was also repaired, has been in continual operation and is doing well.
