Belle Public Works Director gives updates on city water projects

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 3/10/21

Public Works Director Tony Baretich said Tuesday afternoon that they are completely focused on the meter replacement project in Belle.

“The process we are at is cutting holes in the …

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Belle Public Works Director gives updates on city water projects

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Public Works Director Tony Baretich said Tuesday afternoon that they are completely focused on the meter replacement project in Belle.

“The process we are at is cutting holes in the current meter lids to put in the new antennas that will be in the meter lids to make it easier for TNT Underground to start replacing,” Baretich said. “We are scheduled to start replacing meters April 5.”

Baretich had informed the Belle Board of Aldermen at the Feb. 9 meeting that they would be marking the meter pits with blue flags to make them easier for TNT Underground to locate. Residents are advised to leave the flags where they are and not to remove them.

“We are probably a third of the way done with marking the meters with the flags,” Baretich said.

The water project will hopefully be completed by the end of April.

Baretich also gave an update on the wastewater treatment maintenance project. Last month aldermen approved the purchase of brushes for the wastewater treatment  auger that filters rags and other debris before it enters the treatment area.

“Everything is running through,” Baretich told the board in February. “I’d like to buy a new set of brushes.”

The brushes were a $550 expense.

“It is good to be proactive versus reactive,” Mayor Steve Vogt said at the time.

The board approved the purchase with a 4-0 vote. Baretich said Monday that the brushes were ordered and came in, but were not installed yet.

“We will get on that as soon as the meter markers are done, or if a day arises before then,” he said.

The city will also be moving forward with a recently awarded $30,000 water engineering grant. The grant pays for 50 percent — up to $30,000, to test how water travels through the town’s water system and helps identify the deficiencies in the system and where it may be losing water.

Integrity Engineerings’ Terris Cates will be reviewing the water system on the city’s behalf.

Lastly, a conversation ensued about clearing the city roads during inclement weather since the town has the equipment. Baretich mentioned that the public works employees don’t have a Commercial Driver’s License to operate the bigger equipment on the roadway. He did believe the equipment the city owned would pass DOT inspections to be able to take a CDL test.

Alderman Courtney Abel made a motion for the city to pay for public works employees to get their DCLs.

An update on the water projects was expected to occur after The Advocate’s Tuesday night deadline.