Byrdstown Purchases New Computer System And Equipment For Sewer Plant

Byrdstown will conduct some $60,000 of sewer plant improvements to fix the system.

Mayor Sam Gibson said the town will pay for a new computer system and air valves.

“This is kind of the thing that needs to be done without doing the $3 million at the water plant and the $3 million at the sewer plant,” Gibson said. “I know there are still some things that need to be done, but that would pretty well get Dennis, the sewer plant to standard.”

Engineer Nathaniel Green told the town in June that the sewer plant needed some $6 million worth of work overall. Gibson said the purchase is in-line with Green’s recommendations, but instead of going all in, the town will do what is financially feasible.

“We’ve got the American Rescue Plan money, which is designed for water and sewer, so that would be basically be… we got this year $105,000,” Gibson said. “So basically, that $58,000 would be a little over half and use the other half for the water plant.”

Wastewater Manager Dennis South said the current computer system has aged to the point of being unserviceable. As for the valves, South said the department is short on the equipment.

“Our plant is kinda running crippled,” South said. “We’ve got two air valves where we take the parts of two to make one, and our main computer is not operable anymore. It definitely needs an upgrade.”

South said he plans to order the new gear as soon as possible. South said a start time for work is unknown at this time. South said installation cost was also not a part of the approved expenditure.

“When this stuff gets installed, it would pretty much be a new system again,” South said.

In other business, the Board of Aldermen approved the surplus of a forklift and backhoe with the intention to sell by auction. Gibson said a new electric forklift was purchased to replace the item.