Sewer repairs to cost $331K

Replacing manholes and repairing pipes should increase Havelock's sewer capacity for about $14 per gallon less than building a new wastewater treatment plant.

City commissioners on Monday approved a $331,500 request from Havelock Public Services to perform at least 19 repairs to the sewer system. The fixes are expected to reduce wastewater flow by 57,600 gallons per day, according to city data.

"I think we have to do it," said Mayor Jimmy Sanders. "I think we just need to continue to look hard at that sewer we have to allocate and be judicious in our allocations. It's a very expensive commodity."

Repairs will cost roughly $6 for gallon of wastewater flow saved, and building a new treatment plant would cost at least $20 per gallon, Sanders said. Havelock is considering a new plant as a long-term solution to increase its 1.9 million gallon per day discharge capacity.

The money will be spent from the sewer fund retained earnings account, which has a balance of about $1 million.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the repairs, but some questioned the hefty expense.

"I don't know where we're going to stop," said Commissioner George Liner. "At some point, we just can't afford to fix all of them at this cost."

Commissioner Danny Walsh said the board should consider it the cost of routine maintenance.

"Twenty years from now, whoever's sitting in these seats will be having the same discussion we're having now, because the pipes will be 20 years older," he said.

Havelock received $3.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to perform inflow and infiltration repairs to the city sewer system. Pete Deaver, Public Services director, estimated that 60 percent of sewer lines have been inspected both at city and USDA expense.

Deaver had identified 11 emergency repairs and eight second-priority fixes. The most expensive is relocation of a force main on Webb Boulevard, which will cost $25,000.

"The majority of these (leaks) are constant flows, which hurt us more than a heavy rain event," Deaver said.

Havelock's average monthly wastewater discharge for 2008 is 1.5 million gallons per day. State regulations prevent the city from using more than 90 percent of its permitted 1.9 million gpd.

In other action Monday evening:

- Commissioners approved a change to Havelock's personnel policy allowing the city manager to offer retention raises to key employees who are offered other jobs. The board voted 3-2, with Liner, Bob Priesing and Will Lewis in favor and Walsh and Jim Stuart opposed.

Previously, the city manager needed board approval to make a counteroffer to employees who are considering leaving for a higher salary elsewhere.

-The board voted 4-1 to spend $3,500 to improve and maintain a portion of city property near Walter B. Jones Park for use as an athletic field, with Walsh casting the lone opposing vote.

- Commissioners passed an amendment to a city building ordinance that will allow sheds and other accessory structures to be placed in side yards as long as residents meet buffer requirements. Accessory structures previously were not permitted in side yards.

- Board members met in closed session to discuss City Manager Jim Freeman's annual performance evaluation. The state open meetings law allows the board to meet in private to discuss personnel matters.