by James Coulter
The City of Lake Wales is one step closer to improving the inflow and infiltration of its wastewater system now that City Commissioners have voted on an ordinance to approve applying for state funds to help finance the project.
At their regular city commission meeting, Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance, which would approve the submission of an application for state funds for a project to renovate its wastewater system.
According to the city staff memo, the proposed project would, “clean and televise approximately 115,000 linear feet of gravity sewer within Lift Stations 1, 2, and 3 sewer sheds and review reported results of the closed-circuit television (CCTV).”
The wastewater system, also according to the memo, has experienced, “higher flows at the wastewater treatment plant and higher lift station run times for Lift Stations 1, 2, and 3 during wet weather events.” City staff claims, “This is a result of inflow and infiltration (I&I) in the clay gravity sewer mains.”
The city is planning to receive State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF) to help finance the project. To apply for the loan, the city must pass, according to the memo, “a resolution for adoption by the City stating its financial position, its authority to apply for these funds, and to designate the Mayor, as the authorized signer for the loan documents is a requirement.”
The ordinance, which passed unanimously through a roll call vote, would help the city meet those criteria for the loan application so that they may move forward with submitting that application.
