Leak from more than muskrats

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The city of Sheldon’s wastewater lagoon leak may be more serious than it was originally thought to be.

Following maintenance supervisor Joe Brzuchowski’s report to the board, alderman Gene Leininger asked Brzuchowski if muskrats were burrowing into the berm of the wastewater lagoon causing the leak on the south side of the primary cell.

“I don’t think it’s that. I dug 8-foot [down] and it was still wet,” Brzuchowski said. “In theory if it was a muskrat — muskrats dig water level and they don’t dig down. So in theory it should have only been two or three foot deep.”

“I think we have a little more of a problem.” Brzuchowski said. “I think it is seeping from the very bottom of the lagoon and going under the key way. When they build a lagoon, before they even start building it, they cut so wide and so deep of a key way all the way around it and they will mix bentonite and clay and put that in there and call that a key way. Then they will start building the [berm].”

Brzuchowski said this was to create a seal around the bottom of the lagoon so it does not leak.

“I think it’s found a way to travel down and up under the keyway,” Brzuchowski said.

“So we could still have a major problem here?” Leininger asked.

“We need to discuss that,” Sewell said, before moving on to other business.

The board of aldermen has frequently discussed the wastewater lagoon this past year in anticipation of stricter emissions limits expected in 2019. This past winter, Brzuchowski dug above the location where water is seeping through the berm and filled the hole with bentonite clay in an attempt to fix the leak.

• The board discussed needed changes to the nuisance ordinance. Leininger suggested tabling the issue until next month’s meeting to give the board members opportunity to study the ordinance further and be ready to present proposed changes and updates.

• “Main Street is in really rough shape,” Sewell said. He reminded the board there is $112,000 in the streets account and asked they consider the possibility of repaving Main Street between First Street and the railroad tracks.

• The board voted unanimously to approve an application for a Tree Resource and Maintenance Improvement grant that can be used for planting, trimming, or removing trees. The city’s matching portion of the grant will be 40 percent. Alderman Perry Fowler suggested using money from the grant to remove old tree that have reached their lifespan, notably several around the ball field which need to be remove before they fall and damage the ball field fence. Former alderman Robert Moran said 12-14 trees remain of the original 26 slated for removal.

The city’s 40 percent match for the grant can be in-kind; meaning that hours spent by volunteers or city employees working on the grant project counts towards the 40 percent of the grant the city has to pay.

• Stephanie Brzuchow-ski from Sheldon Community Betterment asked the board to wave the cost of the water for a fundraiser car wash at Chiggers. The money will be used to send Sheldon R-8 basketball players to basketball camp this summer. They are trying to raise approximately $2,000. The board voted unanimously to waive the cost of the water for the car wash. JB will read the water meter before and after the car wash, and that amount will be deducted from Chigger’s water bill for the month.

• Beverley Dockery, who is heading up the park board, asked the board’s approval to look into security cameras for outside of the bathrooms at the park. This follows a recent incident of vandalism in which a water supply line was removed from a toilet and allowed to flow on the floor.

• Marlene Moran told the board the library has acquired a cabinet to be used as a lending library, which will be mounted to the front wall of the library building. She said the library board is planning a “Build a better world” reading program this summer. Volunteers will prepare packets of activities children can take home and do with their families.

• Sheldon Fire Chief Bill Jeffries told the board he had to order a tire for the department’s tanker. A new tire costs $1,800, but a used tire in excellent condition will only cost the department $550.

• In his report to the board, maintenance supervisor Joe Brzuchowski said recent rains have slowed progress in getting projects completed.

•At the end of new business, the board voted unanimously to enter closed session with the reason given as personnel. City clerk Becky Morgan said Friday that the board discussed hiring an animal control and code enforcement officer.