Redgranite faced with high costs due to sewer abuses

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The Redgranite Village Board met on Tuesday, July 21 and approved the purchase of new pumps for village lift stations at a cost of $11,594 to B&M Technical Services, Inc., Coloma.  Redgranite Public Works Supervisor, Lamont Larkins, told the board that the main pump in the village was pumped on July 2, and that approximately four pounds of fat, oil, grease (FOG), three inches thick, has already been found in the pump.  He added that in the last three years, the amount of FOG collected in the main pump has more than quadrupled.  Larkins said that more of the FOG is coming from residential use than businesses in the village and that eight pumps have been replaced so far in 2020 and that two more are down.

In a follow-up interview, Larkins said that some residents are, for example, frying up a pound of bacon and then pouring the grease down the drain, sink disposal, or toilet.

“It doesn’t matter which place they pour it, it all ends up in the same place, clogging up our pumps,” said Larkin, concerned about the cost to the village.  He said that FOG should be poured into a leak-proof container, such as a glass jar with a cover, and disposed of in the garbage.

“It’s the same with diaper wipes, disinfectant wipes, and feminine products,” said Larkin.  “The packaging says that it’s flushable.  Well, anything is flushable, but that doesn’t mean it should be flushed.  When FOG comes in contact with wipes and these types of products, the FOG adheres to them and clogs the pumps just as much as pure FOG does.  When the pumps get clogged, the motors burn up.”  Larkins said that a “do not flush notice/list” was mailed to village residents with the last quarter sewer bill, but things have not changed.

“Another thing,” added Larkins, “some people are plumbing their sump pumps into their sewer lateral, which adds to the debris that clogs the pumps.  It’s very illegal, too.”

MSA Project Engineer Dan Rammer was unable to attend the July meeting, but sent a brief report, stating that MSA, Kopplin & Kinas, and village staff had a project walk-through and developed a punchlist of items that still need to be completed.  He said that Kopplin & Kinas plan to have the punchlist completed by the end of August.  He added that he did not receive a pay request from the contractor for the July board meeting.

Following discussion, the board decided that the Redgranite Quarry will remain closed indefinitely.  “Friends of the Redgranite Quarry,” under the leadership of Dan Sanchez, have been cleaning up Quarry Park, cutting dead trees and brush and making trails easier to navigate, especially for handicapped individuals.  Board members complimented Sanchez and other volunteers who have taken on the project, donating equipment, time, and money.  Sanchez said that the quarry will be much more appealing to the public once the clean-up project is complete

The Village Board voted to close the quarry at the June 22 board meeting, with the clean-up/maintenance project being the main reason.

The board voted unan-imously to continue keeping the village clerk’s office closed to the public.  Although the office is closed for face-to-face contact, the village clerk and assistant come into the office during normal business hours and can be contacted by phone or e-mail.   The office will be open to the public on August 11, which is election day.

 

In other business, the board approved:

•The resignation of village office worker, Kelly Manthey.

•A request by the Redgranite Fire Department to close Dearborn Street, from Sanicker’s Pub to the end of the street between the fire hall and Elmer’s Place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 24 to test fire hoses.  This was originally scheduled for June 16, but the testing company did not send along enough manpower to carry out the testing.

•The purchase of 4,000 gallons of aluminum sulfate for approximately $5,000 to $6,000.  This product is used to help control ammonia and phosphate going to wetlands.

•A proposal for reservoir inspection, by Lane Tank Co., for $3,200.

•The purchase of an election machine, payable 50% in 2021 and 50% in 2022.  The current election machines are only good until 2022 as the parts to fix them are no longer produced/available.  With the new machine, voters will receive a paper ballot when checking in, complete the ballot, and insert into the machine tabulator.

•A $50-purchase price for old fire hydrants that have been removed because of the new hydrant project.  It was determined that individuals who are looking to purchase one of the former hydrants want them as keepsakes and plan to use them as yard decorations.  Those who purchase them will be reminded that they should not be placed in their front yards where they could be mistaken as working fire hydrants.

•A request from Un-derwater Connection, Menomonee Falls, to voluntarily clean up the quarry in September or October.

•A 2020-21 operator’s license for Sally Spoentgen (Shell).

•A request that area high school seniors be allowed to have their senior portraits taken at the Redgranite quarry, providing they have them taken in a safe place and that they first go through the village clerk’s office so that the Chief of Police, Kyle Tarr, can be made aware.

 

The next regular Red-granite Village Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 at 7 p.m. at the village hall.

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