At Monday's (Mar. 14) Caneyville City Commission meeting commissioners got an update from Vernon Shanklin with American Consulting Engineers, PLC, of Lexington, on the city's sewer project.

Shanklin only told commissioners that they are "still waiting to get into the manholes before they can quantify the amount of work they have to do and tell the contractors exactly what needs to be done."

The Commission also held a public hearing concerning the Waste Water Facility Plant.

During the hearing Shanklin outlined several alternatives to fix the problem the plant is currently facing.

According to Shanklin, the "volume of flow through the plant is going over the permitted plant hydraulic capacity."

This problem has been caused by an excessive inflow of ground water and surface water into the city's sewer system.

In previous checks of the system several spots around the city were found to allow the water to enter the system. Some of the earlier problems cited include: broken rings on manhole covers, leaky pipes, ditch water flowing into clean-out pipes and some manholes below flood plane level.

While the city has worked to correct and repair many of the problems that have arisen with the system, the treatment plant is still facing the problem of excessive inflow, "a problem that is simply overtaxing the plant."

Shanklin said this problem could lead to others, such as "no more additional services and no more revenues from added services."

Alternatives suggested by Shanklin to fix the problem included:

Extensive inflow/infiltration reduction. (A rehabilitation of the current plant.) To do this, however, there would have to be a "substantial reduction in storm/rain water inflow and ground water infiltration." This problem could be corrected by "making any and all necessary repairs to the sewer system."

Expand the current plant. This would include the construction of an additional ditch ring outside of the current structure and the construction of a second redundant structure. This would increase the plant's capacity to handle 150,000 gallons a day--up from the plant's current capacity of 100,000 gallons.

Scrap the old plant and build a brand new 150,000 gallon plant. "This solution," Shanklin told commissioners "would be at a very high cost to the city." The two types of plants that could be built, an oxidation ditch plant or a diffused air plant, both carry price tags well in excess of a million dollars.

"The current plant, which was built in 1977 was built to accommodate 993 people," Shanklin said.

Today, it is services around 644 people and by the year 2025, it is projected to service at least 794 people.

Given this, the most feasible solution both Shanklin and the commissioners see is the finding of any leaks in the sewer system and the repair of those leaks and an upgrade of their current facility.

Shanklin said he is tentatively budgeting $200,000 to "find leaks in the sewers and to solve any leakage problem."

He told commissioners they should dedicate money in the budget each year to fix sewer leaks and problems in the system.

Kevin Porter, a financial specialist with American Consulting Engineers, spoke briefly to the Commission about possible ways to finance the city's plans for the Waste Water Facility.

He suggested using the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA), which is a low-interest loan; Rural Development (RD), which is both a grant and a loan; and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, for which the city is eligible.

He said that the numbers at this time are "pretty fluid," and before the city proceeds to the financing stage, they first need to get the Facility Plan approved by the state.

In other action, the Commission:

Accepted a health insurance quote through the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky, the city's current insurance provider.

The city's coverage will increase $17.13 per employee/per month, bringing the total to $221.74. Insurance is currently at $204.61 per employee/per month.

Discussed April Clean-Up Month in Grayson County. During the month of April the county will be picking up "white goods" (appliances). People in Caneyville with "something to pick up" should call City Hall at (270) 879-9701.

They should set it on the side of the road or at the edge of their property, so that workers can easily remove the appliance.

The "pick-ups" will occur each Friday in April as part of the Caneyville/Grayson County Clean-Up.

Accepted a check (an Area Development Fund check) from Janice Rawson, a public administration specialist with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, for $2,553.42 to be used toward the purchase of a new truck for the city.