The Hastings City Council Tuesday dealt with wastewater and water treatment system issues Tuesday, approving a comprehensive improvement plan for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and learning that the Water Treatment Plant filter media won’t have to be replaced.
The council approved the final Project Plan for the improvements, appointing deputy City Manager Jerry Czarnecki project representative for the city.
The WWTP project, in the works for several years, is a $9.2 million overhaul of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and the Project Plan is required as a condition of securing the project’s funding through a low-interest loan from the State’s Revolving Fund administered by EGLE, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (formerly the MDEQ).
At the Water Treatment Plant, the ground storage tank passed inspection and was found in good, clean condition. The two filter tanks that were planned to have the filter media changed were also inspected and will not need replacement. The inspectors suggested inspection every five years. “The filter media looks very nice,” Czarnecki said. “The sand is good. Our drinking water system is great…the city provides good drinking water.”
An area in the Fish Hatchery Park parking lot leased to Spectrum Health Pennock for its employees to park could potentially trigger a reverter provision in the deed that originally transferred that part from the DNR to the city years ago. City Manager Jeff Mansfield said he and Spectrum Health will continue working to get the provision eliminated, but it will take some time. The council agreed that in the meantime Pennock employees could park in another area of the park. Most of the park does not have the reverter clause, Mansfield said.
The council also amended the Joint Library Board Agreement to reinstate Hastings Charter Township representatives after township voters approved millage to support the facility in the May election. The township lost its representation on the board after rejecting an earlier millage request. There was no interruption of library services to township residents.
Also, the council approved an agreement with SME (Soils and Materials Engineers)
to provide environmental assessments at the former Hastings Manufacturing Royal Coach site. The $63,000 cost will be paid by a Brownfield Redevelopment Grant from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (formerly the DEQ).
