Purchase of new sewer pumps is approved

The Village of Chataignier underwent problems of sewer lift pumps going down at the same time at some of its sewer stations. Normally, each station has two pumps that alternate and then work together whenever there is a heavy rain. With the problems, though, the village mixed and matched existing pumps which left some stations only having one pump.
“Right now we’re living on borrowed time,” said Village Administrator Gail McDavid at last Thursday’s village council meeting. “One pump motor at a lift station is just not sufficient. You’re going to get a lot of complaints from home owners if we get some heavy rain.”
Mayor Justin Darbonne stated electrical work has been done on the pumps but work has not been done on the impeller or the impeller housing. He went on to give a cost-benefit analysis of installing used pumps or installing new ones.
“It’s expensive,” he said regarding new pumps, “but these pumps should last us 10 to 12 years if not longer. These pumps are supposed to be better than the ones we have now.”
As a result, the council voted to approve the purchase of two pumps with the use of funds from sales of the Gula Miller property.
In related business, the council adopted resolutions to apply for water enrichment funds through LGAP and CWEF. Mayor Darbonne expressed any funds received could go toward the purchase of additional pumps.