The Decatur Board of Aldermen has declared an emergency to authorize a $24,000 repair to a critical service pump in the town’s water system, allowing officials to bypass the competitive bidding process and expedite the necessary work.
The decision, made during the board’s Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting, came after a public works official reported that the pump had suffered a catastrophic failure. The service pump has been in operation for more than a decade.
“The shaft broke and it came apart in pieces,” said Public Works Director David Anderson during the meeting.
Board members spoke to the urgency of the repair, noting that delays could cause issues for residents. “Really, we don't have much of a choice,” Mayor of Decatur Max Anderson stated.
The board determined that securing competitive bids would significantly delay repairs, potentially leading to water system issues. In recent months, Decatur has faced multiple water system challenges, including a booster pump failure that led to yellow water in some areas.
David Anderson reassured residents that there is no immediate risk to water quality or pressure. “The water quality's fine. Everything's good. The problem is it's all on one pump now. And if it goes down, we could have problems then,” he said.
Additionally, the board discussed long-term improvements, including plans for a new well on the same property, which has already been funded and is expected to be completed within a year. “The company’s got 365 days. We just signed off on it here in January. So they got a year to drill a new well, and then we'll have two in-ground wells,” Mayor Max Anderson explained.
The next Board of Aldermen meeting is scheduled for March 4, when officials are expected to provide an update on the repair process and discuss further infrastructure needs.
