Marion eyes water plant completion in time for summer

Marion eyes water plant completion in time for summer

New filtration facility on schedule

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion’s new water filter plant should be ready to pump water in time for the busy summer usage months.

Jack Bond of Bond Engineering told the city council that the project is about 50 percent complete.

“We’ve poured the slabs for the pumps,” Bond said. “And the tanks should be delivered in two weeks.”

The filter plant is being built next to Well No. 3 north of Military Road behind Trinity in the Fields Episcopal Church by the cell tower on Washington Street.

The cost to build the filter plant is about $2.4 million.

While Well. No. 3 meets safe drinking standards, the water is a bit cloudy and the city occasionally hears complaints from residents.

The city mostly uses Well No. 3 as a back up water source, but it does come on-line during the dry summer months when water is at its peak usage.

Marion has four wells, two of which have filtration plants.

Bond said the new plant is on schedule.

“It should be available in two to three months,” Bond said.

In other business, the city expressed concerns about the contractor who had been hired to mow around the city.

“Mowing began March 14,” said Councilman Kelly O’Neal. “They still haven’t mowed the intersection (by Topps BBQ) and the one by McDonald’s has only been mowed one time. They are only mowing about six or seven intersections.”

“Yeah, I noticed that,” Mayor Frank Fogleman responded. “I don’t have an answer for you. But I certainly will find out.” The city signed a contract with Pro Turf to mow for $52,780.

Fogleman said he will direct Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rawls to inquire

about it.

By Mark Randall