The Cullman city council took steps this week to repair a leak at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The council approved plans for emergency repairs to a 42-inch forcemain — a sewer line water is pushed through — at the Cullman Wastewater Treatment Plant. The work is estimated to cost $52,660. Cullman Mayor Max Townson said the leak needed to be repaired as soon as possible, though it was not serious enough to pose any danger. “It’s not a leak to the extent of it being dangerous, but it is something that needs to be repaired quickly” Townson said. “Any type of leak needs to be repaired.” The project is being handled by Apel Machine and Supply. “It’s not a huge job, but we just don’t have the equipment to handle it,” treatment plant supervisor Jerry Paul said. Townson said the city is not equipped to handle repairs on pipes as large as the one that has sprung a leak. “The street department can handle some,” he said. “But, when you’re dealing with something like this, you need to have the right equipment or you can do more damage than good.” If the leak were not repaired soon, Townson said the city could fall out of compliance with government agencies that regulate wastewater plant output. “We don’t want to be in violation with ADEM (Alabama Department of Economic Management) or the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency),” he said. “So, we want to get this fixed as soon as possible.” The council also: ‰ Approved a request for purchase from the police department for a new, $1,360 vacuum. ‰ Approved a request for purchase from the waste water treatment plant for a new, $692 pressure washer. ‰ Approved a lease agreement with Quality outdoor advertising for two billboards at a total cost of $12,600. ‰ Approved a request for purchase from the fire department for a router, upgrade card and to pay for labor for communications at a total cost of $2,505 for the new fire station #2. ‰ Approved a request from the street department to purchase 15 small pieces of equipment for $51,800. Supplies include a mower for skid steer, concrete forms, concrete saws, ditching bucket and other items. ‰ Approved plans to purchase a $13,128 electric meter reading truck for the water department. ‰ Approved plans to give the Pilot Light Home for Abused and Neglected Children all surplus and unused city cellular phones for a fund raiser project. ‰ Approved an agreement with the Cullman County Commission to allow a chain link fence to be built on the animal shelter property. ‰ Approved a travel request from the traffic department for three people to attend a conference in Orlando, Fla. in August for a total cost of $6,617. The trip is to a IMSA conference to attain certification. ‰ Sent an annexation request from Zac and Amy Wood to annex their property into the city limits of Cullman to the planning commission. Their property is located on lot #11 of the Magic Farms subdivision. ‰ Approved a request to close Clark Street between First Avenue NE and Second Avenue NE from Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. until Sunday, June 28 at noon for a wedding. ‰ Granted permission to allow a monthly prayer rally, beginning July 25, from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. on the courthouse sidewalks. The meeting will be a monthly event on the last Saturday of each month. ‰ Approved an agreement with Grief Brothers Corporation for the City of Cullman to execute a voluntary clean-up plan for the property, which has been approved by ADEM. ‰ Approved Ordinance No. 1065 Removing Police Jurisdiction for Tobacco Sales. The change clarifies language used in the ordinance and does not include any actual changes. ‰ Held the first reading to annex Danny McAfee’s property into the city limits of Cullman. ‰ Passed an ordinance for a sales tax holiday for 2009, to coincide with the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. ‰ Tabled a resolution for the Cullman Regional Airport to consult with Excel Aviation Consulting Service. ‰ Passed a resolution authorizing an $18,883 change order for the new police building at the Grief Brothers property. ‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225. =================== Derek Price Editor, The Cullman Times (256) 734-2131, ext. 213