Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fund May Help Pay For Work At Station In Gurdon

The Gurdon Water and Sewer Commission have a smart accountant to thank for making unforeseeable problems affordable.

The commission heard from Harold Hurst, department manager and Charles R. Summerford of Summerford Engineering, Inc. Monday, Jan. 17, at the regular meeting. While working up repair plans for the Miller Street sewerage pumping station, Summerford found a problem he described as "almost criminal."

The station is located North of the McGee's Grocery store on highway 67.

Summerford went into technical details that showed the required amount of storage below the pump in the lift station should be around three feet deep. The current station has an estimated 14 inches of storage. The station was built in 1972, but Summerford expressed that the design would have been grossly inadequate even then. Continuing Summerford conveyed that "If you look on the original blueprints, I'd guarantee they'd show storage."

The Hurst, Summerford and the commissioners speculated that this could have been the possible cause of a slight sewerage back-up in one low lying home on that line.

The station is currently 15 feet deep. It needs to be 20 feet deep to provide the room needed for 800 gallons of storage.

To correct this and other problems with the design in this particular lift station, the commission may rely on the depreciation funds that are put in reserve for just such a situation. Some years ago the commission's accountants suggested that they reserve five percent of all income to pay for repairs and replacement of equipment.

The lift station project was expected to cost an estimated $22,000. According to Hurst, "Now we are looking at a cost of $48,000."

The commission approved the motion allowing Summerford to proceed with work on bid specifications. The commission expects the bid specifications to be ready by February.

Hurst announced that the plans for buying a backhoe were definitely put on hold.

The commission is currently working to find a way to legally continue to employ a man Hurst describes as "a hard worker and valued employee." The employee had incurred a traffic ticket over a year ago. The insurance on the job has not been willing to cover him.

Hurst stated that the personnel committee will meet this week to peruse the applications turned in for the two positions to be permanently filled. They are office manager and utility worker.