‘Chopper Pumps’ Could Help Solve Sewer Woes

Staff Writer

Homeowners need a sewer pump that can handle the usual. When you run a county jail, the pump has to be able to handle the unusual.

The Van Zandt County Justice Center will be getting a pair of sewer pumps that, as a video demonstration showed, can shred everything from wood to blue jeans.

County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $21,124 budget amendment to buy two "chopper pumps" to help solve what Sheriff Pat Burnett termed "an ongoing problem" with the lift pump station at the justice center.

The money will be transferred from the county fund balance. Burnett and the commissioners see the purchase as the beginning step toward resolving longstanding water and sewer issues that might have contributed to cracks in the building’s foundation.

Carter Tucker of Carter Equipment in Longview brought a section model of one of the chopper pumps and went over technical information with the commissioners’ court.

"These are known as ‘severe duty’ pumps," he said, adding that many industrial companies use them because of waste that would block normal pumps.

"These have done a tremendous job for those facilities," Tucker said.

The purchase includes a one-year workmanship, parts and material warranty, he added.

"We’re estimating two to eight years before any work would have to be done, but I’ve seen these pumps still going strong after 11 years," Tucker said.

"We would like to have a regular maintenance cycle on these so we won’t have to do this again," Burnett later added about the purchase.

To this point, the only assistance in catching potential pump-wrecking items — things like large vegetation and food scraps or clothing — has come from handmade "baskets" installed in the lift station.

"Most lift stations are not supposed to pump anything that can’t go through a (sewer) line," Precinct 3 Commissioner Kelles Miller said. "Pumps are made to mulch what could go through a four-inch pipe."

Tucker agreed, but added, "Running a jail, you have to go the extra length and make up for situations you shouldn’t have to deal with."

Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners’ court approved a building foundation repair estimate for the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace office in Ben Wheeler.

Precinct justice Scott Shinn said the courtroom floor continues to have flooding problems despite recent repairs to the roof.

"It’s $1,100 each time to sump (the water) out and set up the fans…we’ve got to figure out where it (water) is coming from," Shinn said.

"I think the foundation is cracked," Precinct 4 Commissioner Ron Carroll said. He later added, "It has been a problem for many years and we can’t keep paying $1,100 every time it rains."

Miller suggested a foundation evaluation include cost estimates for installing a French drain system to push water away from the building.

In other matters during Tuesday’s session, the court took the following action:

— Tabled action on a request for a re-plat in the Ark Ridge Subdivision on Van Zandt County Road 4708.

— Approved a renewal of the technical and maintenance contract on the Mentalix Live Scan System for the sheriff’s department.

— Approved a request by Burnett to sell a 2002 Ford Explorer at an auction.

— Approved an emergency transfer of $800 to the Precinct 3 Road and Bridge budget for funds received from Land Star Trucking for road damages.

— Adopted a resolution requesting a change to the method of selection for the Community Development Fund grant.

— Approved an interlocal agreement between Precinct 1 and the city of Grand Saline to overlay approximately 1.5 miles of roads in the city.

— Approved budget amendments for Precinct 1, Precinct 3, Precinct 4, county auditor and county library departments.

— Approved advertising for bids for road and bridge material, road and bridge fuel, sheriff’s department fuel and office supplies.