Farms Council Approves $4.5M Bond, Generator

The council unanimously approved and the purchase of a permanent generator.

Both were proposed earlier this year following a report by engineers investigating the .

Monday was the public hearing for the bond issue but there was only one member of the public who attended the meeting related to the flooding issue and he declined comment when Mayor James Farquhar offered public comment.

The council unanimously approved both the bond and the purchase of the permanent backup generator. Engineer Tom Biehl explained to council Monday that the generator will be built in the coming weeks and months.

The backup generator will be delivered to the Kerby Road Pump Station between Aug. 15 to 30, Biehl said. It will immediately be hooked up to the temporary generator, which will then be removed and essentially the permanent backup generator will be used immediately, he said.

Some construction is necessary at the Kerby Road Pump Station to prepare for the delivery but all changes will match the facade of the building, Biehl said, explaining he will be going before the historical commission before the next council meeting its approval.

During this construction, there is potential to build in an extra storm water well that could add an additional 12 percent capacity for storm water storage, Biehl said, explaining it would be significant.

He said adding the extra well is not necessary would be good should the council ever make the decision to separate the sewage and storm water systems for the inland district. If that project never comes to fruition, having the extra well is simply more help in the event of major storms, he said.