Century Spending About $47K In Fixes To Keep Sewer Plant Running
September 24, 2019
The Century Town Council Monday night approved tens of thousands of dollars of expenditures to keep the town’s sewage treatment plant up and running.
The town approved up to $36,000 for emergency repairs to a clarifier — a device that removes solids from sewage passing through the plant. Interim City Manager Buz Eddy said the clarifier was last rebuilt some 19 or 20 years ago. He described it as a geared device that has simply worn out and dropped the plant’s capacity by one-third.
There are three clarifiers at the wastewater plant, with the other two last rebuilt in in 2007 and 2017. The town will fund the repair using capital outlay money in the upcoming fiscal year that begins October 1.
Monday night, the town also approved the removal of biosolids and sludge and evaluation of filters as first reported by NorthEscambia.com Monday morning. Those items are reprinted below.
Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Removal
According to town documents, the level of biosolids and sewage sludge are too high, and the town’s current disposal method using drying bed is inadequate to remedy the problem.
The Century treatment facility has three drying beds, but one is out of service and in need of significant repairs estimated at $25,000. Somewhere around 2006, the town purchased a belt press – which essentially squeezes the liquid out of the sludge — but it has been out of service for several years and repair parts are no longer available.
The town has a tanker truck that could be used to haul the sludge away, but it is not in operating order. It’s a 1987 Peterbilt that pulls a 1970’s era tanker trailer that holds about 5,000 gallons. It is estimated it would cost $7,000 for truck repairs and an inspection on the structural integrity of the tank.
The town contacted three companies for quotes to remove the sludge:
- Johnson Septic declined to quote.
- Boyett’s in Pensacola quoted $1,500 per 4,000 gallon tanker load, including a $405 ECUA disposal fee, which equates to 37.5 cents per gallon.
- Green South Solutions in Florala, AL, quoted a turnkey solution at $950 per $6,500 gallon tanker load, or 14.6 center per gallon. The price includes all equipment, personal, disposal permits and insurance to remove the excess biosolids.
The town council awarded the contract to Green South Solutions to remove 10 loads of biosolids/sludge for $9,500 total.
Wastewater Filters
The town council awarded a $1,800 contract to Aqua-Aerobic Solutions to evaluate the effluent filters at the wastewater treatment plant. The filters, according to town documents, have been out of service for several years due to the controls being submerged.
The filters, manufactured by Aqua-Aerobic Solutions, were installed in 2002 and 2007.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
September 24, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School has named students of the month for August. They are Addyson Smallwood and Jamarion Purifoy. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Escambia School Bus Crash
September 24, 2019
There were no serious injuries when a woman rear-ended a school bus in Beulah Monday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Jennifer McCool was traveling east on Mobile Highway near Beulah School Board when she failed to slow and rear-end the Escambia County School District bus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Of 34 children on the bus, on 11-year old complained about minor arm pain, according to troopers, but was not transported to the hospital.
McCool was ticketed for careless driving.
Winner Selected To Flip The Lights On The New Pensacola Beach Sign
September 23, 2019
Escambia County has selected the winner of their online contest to flip on the lights at the new Pensacola Beach sailfish sign during a ceremony Tuesday.
The winner, randomly selected from 1,548 contest entries, is Robin Bjorklund.
The new sign was designed to look exactly like the old sign, and it features energy efficient LED lights. While in Santa Rosa County, the sign is owned by Escambia County.
Man Critically Injured When He Falls Off His Motorcycle On Munson Highway
September 23, 2019
A Santa Rosa County man was critically injured when he fell off his motorcycle Sunday night on Munson Highway.
At about 6:37 p.m., 42-year old Robert Henry Seemer was northbound on Munson Highway when he lost control off his 2006 Harley Davidson and fell off, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Troopers said Seemer was not wearing a helmet.
File photo.
Surveillance Photos Released From Airport Boulevard Armed Robbery
September 23, 2019
Pensacola Police have released surveillance photos from an armed robbery last Tuesday at 8:21 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s on Airport Boulevard. Anyone with information on the robbery or suspects is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Sewer Plant Needs Biosolid Removal; Filters Are Out Of Service
September 23, 2019
The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility needs biosolids and sludge removed to remain compliant with state requirements, and necessary filters are out of service.
Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Removal
According to town documents, the level of biosolids and sewage sludge are too high, and the town’s current disposal method using drying bed is inadequate to remedy the problem.
The Century treatment facility has three drying beds, but one is out of service and in need of significant repairs estimated at $25,000. Somewhere around 2006, the town purchased a belt press – which essentially squeezes the liquid out of the sludge — but it has been out of service for several years and repair parts are no longer available.
The town has a tanker truck that could be used to haul the sludge away, but it is not in operating order. It’s a 1987 Peterbilt that pulls a 1970’s era tanker trailer that holds about 5,000 gallons. It is estimated it would cost $7,000 for truck repairs and an inspection on the structural integrity of the tank.
The town contacted three companies for quotes to remove the sludge:
- Johnson Septic declined to quote.
- Boyett’s in Pensacola quoted $1,500 per 4,000 gallon tanker load, including a $405 ECUA disposal fee, which equates to 37.5 cents per gallon.
- Green South Solutions in Florala, AL, quoted a turnkey solution at $950 per $6,500 gallon tanker load, or 14.6 center per gallon. The price includes all equipment, personal, disposal permits and insurance to remove the excess biosolids.
The town council will consider awarding the contract to Green South Solutions to remove 10 loads of biosolids/sludge for $9,500 total.
Wastewater Filters
The town council will also consider awarding a $1,800 contract to Aqua-Aerobic Solutions to evaluate the effluent filters at the wastewater treatment plant. The filters, according to town documents, have been out of service for several years due to the controls being submerged.
The filters, manufactured by Aqua-Aerobic Solutions, were installed in 2002 and 2007.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Facility. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Spike
September 23, 2019
Florida gas prices surged an average of 10 cents as expected last week after drone attacks on Saudi Arabia caused crude prices to rise.
The average price per gallon spiked 12 cents in Escambia County to $2.48 but was as low as $2.41 Sunday night in Cantonment.
Florida drivers are now paying an average price of $2.50 per gallon. Despite last week’s dime increase, the state average remains 30 cents per gallon less than this year’s highest daily price back in April.
Escambia Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
September 23, 2019
The latest job numbers just released by the state show a steady unemployment rate in Escambia County and a small decrease in Santa Rosa County.
Escambia County’s unemployment held steady at 3.5%. There were 5,124 people were reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was also 3.5 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.4% in July to 3.2% in August. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,657 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 3.3 percent.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3% in August 2019, unchanged from the July 2019 rate, and down 0.1 percentage point from a year ago. There were 342,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,387,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in August.
The jobless numbers released by the state do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Youth Football: NWE 2-2 Against Andalusia; Century Splits With Georgiana
September 23, 2019
NWE finished 2-2 against the Andalusia Bulldogs Saturday in youth football action, and Century split with Georgiana, Alabama.
NWE Football
Freshman
NWE 31, Andalusia 0
Sophomore
Andalusia 31, NWE 12
Juniors
NWE 32, Andalusia 13
Seniors
Andalusia 42, NWE 8
Century Sports Association
Georgiana def. Century
Century 18, Georgiania 6