Curtiss reconsidering $20M sewer upgrade
Curtiss officials are seeking a “second opinion” on a proposed sewer plant upgrade after Abbyland Foods asked about treating all of its own industrial waste rather than helping the village pay for a $20 million project.
The village board reviewed proposals and price estimates from four engineering firms at its June 1 meeting but decided not to take any action until additional information could be provided to the firms on what the village is looking for.
MSA Professional Services has already written a draft facility plan that calls for the two-phase construction of a biofilm reactor and tertiary filter that will be used to remove phosphorus and ammonia from the village’s wastewater. This would replace the current five-lagoon system operated by the village.
MSAengineerMikeVosstoldtheboard in January that the total cost of building the new treatment facilities could top $20 million. As the largest contributor of waste to the village’s sewer utility, Abbyland would pay a lion’s share of that cost. It currently pays about 70 percent of the utility’s operation and maintenance expenses.
At last week’s meeting, DPW Larry Swarr presented the board with proposals submitted by MSA and three other firms — CBS Squared, Cooper Engineering and Davy Engineering — for reviewing MSA’s facility plan and developing a new plan with cheaper options.
Abbyland already handles most of its own industrial waste produced in Curtiss by hauling it to the company’s treatment plant in Abbotsford. That includes all of the industrial waste from its distribution center and truck wash, plus about half the waste coming from its pork plant.
If the company were to start treating 100 percent of its industrial waste from the village, the plant in Abbotsford would likely need to be upgraded, Swarr said.
Trustee John Unruh said it doesn’t make sense for the company to help pay for a massive upgrade to the village’s sewer facilities.
“The current facility plan, the $20 million project, is not on the radar for Abbyland,” Unruh said. “It makes more financial sense for them to disconnect. I mean, that’s a lot of money, and they can treat stuff over at their plant in Abbotsford.”
The need for upgraded sewer facilities came up after it was determined that there is not enough separation between the bottom of the treatment lagoons and the groundwater beneath. The three feet between the bottom of the ponds and the aquifer does not meet DNR standards.
The cost of lining the ponds was thought to be too high, and it wouldn’t help the village meet stricter phosphorus and ammonia limits going into place. Voss said the DNR may not require the village to address the groundwater separation issue if the flow of industrial waste from Abbyland is reduced.
On the other hand, if Abbyland were to entirely disconnect its remaining industrial waste from the village’s system, Voss the DNR may allow the village to get by with just adding some more chemicals to remove phosphorus and install new aerators in the ponds.
When Swarr asked the engineering firms for cost estimates to provide second opinions, the prices ranged from $2,100 to $18,000, so board members suspected they weren’t getting “apples to apples” proposals.
“I don’t think everyone is looking at doing the same thing,” Unruh said.
In response, the board directed Swarr to write up more specific requests for engineers to consider, with Unruh reviewing them before they are sent out.
_ Four village residents have stepped forward to say that they are interested in filling a trustee spot on the board that was left open after Betty Rettig was elected president in April. Two of the candidates, James Jensen and Don Walters, attended last week’s meeting.
Rettig and Unruh said they would like to interview the applicants before appointing one to serve on the board. This will be done at a special meeting planned for this Thursday, June 10.
_ The board was unable to renew all of village’s liquor and tobacco licenses after Unruh abstained from voting. These include retail licenses for Abbyland Truck Stop’s convenience store and restaurant and El Norteno, plus operator’s licenses for 10 individuals.
The current licenses expire as of June 30, but it is hoped that a newly appointed board member will vote with Retting in favor of approving the licenses.
_ Village clerk Carol Devine told the board that Gerald Draxler, owner of the village's trailer park, owes over $8,000 in unpaid water and sewer bills. She said he verbally agreed to start paying $1,000 per month, but that hasn't happened.
The board was reluctant to shut off water service to the park, since it would leave the tenants without water. Rettig said it's her understanding that the tenants are paying Draxler more than necessary for the water they use.
The board agreed to contact the village attorney to see what their options are for getting Draxler to pay.
_ The board voted to pay former president Randy Busse $40 after he complained about shortchanged on his last paycheck. The board also voted to purchase plaque to commemorate all of the village's past presidents.
_ The board passed a motion to place “no engine braking” signs at two locations within the village. The board also approved a 15 mph speed limit sign for Second Street.
_ The board voted to have the village join a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers of PFAS, a contaminant that shows up at sewage plants. This will allow the village to recoup its costs for removing the contaminants if the DNR orders it to be done.
