FARMINGTON – The 2015 sewer department budget of $978,884 was approved by selectmen Tuesday night.
The budget is $18,525 more than last year’s, which represents a 1.93 percent increase, but it did not result in a rate increase.
Included in the budget is a full-time operator position at the waste water treatment plant selectmen approved of earlier. The current half-time position was found to not be enough to cover the repair needs in the field and keep up with the plant’s daily maintenance.
The budget also includes upgrades to the aging plant water system’s pumps, two pump stations’ needs and the purchase of a geographic information system, which the town currently doesn’t have to put the map of the water system into an updated electronic version.
The system includes 30 miles of sewer lines, 12 pump stations and 400 manholes.
The plant’s superintendent, Stephen Millett said the water process system needs upgrades. “The pumps are getting noisier. It’s only a matter of time until they break down.”
Other upgrades are needed to two of the pump stations, and Millett is researching the replacement of the plant’s belt press for bio-solid removal. The current belt filter press, used to separate liquid from solids, is inefficient and costly compared with newer models. Funding has been set aside each year in a capital reserve account towards the estimated $1 million cost to replace the press.
The plant’s control building and septage receiving station roofs are to be replaced, estimated to cost $100,000. That funding is to come out of a reserve account.
Selectman also approved no increase in the first quarter sewer rate.
In other action, $66,3000 was approved for plow setup of the new Freightliner truck. Selectmen went with the recommended, longer-lasting stainless steel dump body and a stainless sander for the Highway Department’s fleet of trucks.
