October 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Moving Forward With Water Supply,
System Improvements
DECATUR - The Decatur City Council on Monday took significant steps towards shoring up the City’s water supply, approving contracts worth $8.3 million for much needed system upgrades and informally selecting a method to speed up ongoing dredging efforts.
The council voted in favor of contracts to construct a south water elevated tank, booster pump and water distribution main, work that will be contingent upon the city receiving a low interest loan to pay for the work. One of the requirements for receiving funds through the Public Water Supply loan program is that the city enters into contracts to perform the work in question but the work would not actually be authorized until if and when the loan is secured.
In other business the council informally agreed to pursue privatizing the city’s dredge operation, a move that would complete the dredging operation in the shortest amount of time and with the least cost of all options being considered. Dredging operations have not gone as well as had been expected and the city council and staff have been looking for ways to improve the process.
It is believed that by privatizing the operation we could complete the project in five years at an estimated cost of $31.2 million. If the city were to continue its current operations it would take 19 years to complete the work at a cost of $37.4 million.
If a contractor were hired to complete the dredging work, current city dredge workers could be absorbed into other city positions. For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.