ADEQ to West Memphis: Leaky tank must go!

City to dispose of faulty oil tank after Public Works recommendation

news@theeveningtimes.com

The City of West Memphis owns a leaky oil tank and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality said it’s got to go.

City Engineer Amanda Hicks said the estimated cost to remove the tank and fix the polluted soil around the buried tank came in at $26,500.

Hicks presented the repairs and other additions to the next year budget to the Public Works Commission dung it November meeting. She indicated a federal grant would reduce the city burden.

A licensed contractor would remove the tank and surrounding polluted soil and properly dispose of it all.

The consulting engineer expected some soil disposal but noted but noted costs would increase if remediation became extensive.

“There is a federal grant for leaking tanks like this,” said Hicks. “The city’s share would be $7,800.”

The department also needed a new flush truck. Flush trucks force water into street drains to unplug leaf and trash clogs. Flushing improves the speed city streets runoff after storms.

“It flushes drains and culverts under driveways,” said Hicks.

The flush truck in use had been handed down from the Utilities Department.

Commissioners weighed two repair options for the old truck. Estimates for a rebuilt pump amounted to $8,6000. A new pump could be fitted for $22,000.

Hicks said the need was urgent.

“We got the utility flush truck six years ago and the pumps has been repaired several times,” said Hicks.

“The pump is broken again. With the leaves falling we are getting a lot of calls. With the high cost we’d have to get it approved by city council on an emergency clause.

A new pump comes with a one year warranty. “

Public works commissioners unanimously recommended city council consider the new pump on an emergency clause so the street department could keep up with calls.

Street planning costs were set to increase next year thanks to Grow 2040 plan rezoning requirements to standardize city roads.

Part of the city growth and development plan included a new tree lined center boulevard strip down East Broadway. The landscaping scenery would be the first step toward softening the blight impact and aimed at fostering east end private redevelopment.

Orion consultants laid out the Grow 2040 plan for the city.

There are street-scapes and curb cuts in there,” said Hicks. “Orion planning and design would be $4,000 and come out of next year street funds.”

Hicks next requested a compressed gas powered grapple tuck for the sanitation department as part of its budget next year. The city share of a 70/30 state grant for the trash truck cost projected at $80,000.

“I just applied for a grant to replace a diesel fuel vehicle with a clean emissions vehicle,” said Hicks.

“We do have a fuel station at Love’s of Martin Luther King that handles compressed gas (CG) fuel.”

The trend to cleaner burning trucks has grown in municipal fleets according to the city engineer and using CG opens avenues for more funding.

“The entire Little Rock sanitation fleet is CG,” said Hicks. “They get more grants to keep up the infrastructure. It burns cleaner.

They are fewer maintenance issues. “