City finance committee reviews water system needs

The Glencoe City Finance and Strategic Planning Committee met Wednesday, Nov. 25 to discuss the budget for 2016.
City Administrator Mark Larson gave an overview of the total budget for 2016. He said the budget will be balanced.
Public Works Director Gary Schreifels provided an overview of the projected needs of the water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and storm water system.
The water treatment plant needs have an estimated cost of $72,500. Schreifels explained some of the costs include replacement of equipment. One piece, the high service pump rework, is budgeted ever year.
The biggest expense is a new truck and utility box to replace the current 1997 ones. The estimated cost is $40,000, but Schreifels plans to bring the cost to the City Council at the last meeting in December.
Another expense Schreifels reviewed is working on the stucco outside the water plant building. The southeast corner of the building was damaged from the 2015 construction and Schreifels estimates it will cost $6,000 to fix it.
Schreifels also reviewed a data view cost that will be applied to both the water plant and wastewater plant at $10,000 each. The data view is a new software packet to identify pipes, valves and other equipment underground. The information could be used for repairs.
The city is talking to Houston Engineering about the system and is hoping to piggyback information with the county.
Larson explained the city already has a digital system but is looking for a new one as  the old one is now outdated and no longer supported.
One goal for the water treatment plant is to stay focused on the inflow and infiltration (I&I) program. The program used to have $100,000 budgeted, but half of that will now be going to debt service. Schreifels said there is still more than enough to continue the program.
The wastewater treatment plant needs have an estimated cost of $115,500.

For more, see the Dec. 2 print edition of The Chronicle.