The Pearl River County Utility Authority’s board of trustees received an update on the current state of their budget and approved motions to seek bid proposals for contract work.
Local CPA Ray Scott informed the board that so far revenue is coming in within 1 percent of projections, while expenses are within .4 percent of the projected budget.
Revenue for the previous month came in at $307,000, which was $4,700 more than budgeted.
Scott said projections for revenue generated from processing leachate came in less than expected due to the amount of dilution needed to process the landfill waste.
Sewer line rehabilitation may be more involved than previously estimated. Utility Authority engineer Brooks Wallace said the work to video sewer mains near the lift station on U.S. 11 near GTM Building Supply has found more damaged lines than previously estimated. Initial estimates planned for rehabilitation work to about a third of the mains in that area, but now they estimate as much as 60 percent of the mains need work.
So far the video phase has found mains that are missing bottoms, which is unusual. Wallace said typically the gases from the wastewater will cause the top of concrete mains to deteriorate, but these mains exhibit damage to the bottom.
Additionally the inspection has found that at least 20 manholes are covered by asphalt, said Utility Authority engineer Vernon Moore.
While most of the lines can be repaired using a special liner made of a rubber like substance, Wallace estimates finding severely damaged areas that will require immediate point repairs.
While lining the damaged pipes will mean the loss of 12 millimeters of interior diameter, the slicker surface the liner provides should help increase flow within the sewer mains, Wallace said.
Many of the mains that need repairs are between 40 to 50 years old.
Wallace said the liners should add another 30 years to their lifespan.
In other business the board approved a motion to advertise for statements of qualifications and cost proposals for contract maintenance of the water and sewer systems. Wallace said by receiving these statements the Utility Authority will be able to secure the best price for emergency repair and regular maintenance work. Once accepted, the Utility Authority would then have a list of prices for specific work and response times the company would have to adhere to. If those response times are not met, the company could face penalties.
Utility Authority attorney Heather Ladner said the board could also include a termination clause within the contract should the company’s performance not meet expectations.
Wallace expects to be able to present a list of bids by February.
The board will meet again on Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. at the treatment facility on Neal Road in Picayune.