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Angels Camp Mayor Jack Lynch has long questioned the size and cost of the $4 million wastewater treatment plant improvement project scheduled to begin later this year.

Following a presentation by Lynch at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council voted on the mayor’s request for a justification of the plant’s sizing at 1.9 million gallon peak-flow capacity from city staff, and for copies of the 1996 report that called for the plant’s sizing before proceeding further with the project.

A majority of the panel was not convinced they needed further information and deliberation, voting 3-2 against requesting the information. Council members Elaine Morris, Jack Boeding and Paul Raggio comprised the majority with Lynch and Craig Turco dissenting.
 

“It’s not a question of if we want to do it, it’s that we’ve got to do it. Blame the state (regulations),” Raggio said. “We’re beating a half-dead horse here. I’m ready to go forward.”

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” Morris added.

Lynch had cited a growth rate in the general plan lower than that of earlier consultant reports used by project consultants as reasons a smaller plant may be more appropriate. City staff insisted the assertions made in the 1996 report hold true today with 100-year storm flows taken into consideration to determine peak flow needs.

City officials also explained that the ultraviolet treatment system to be utilized in the improved plant would be more cost-efficient for full-time utilization than a hypochlorite system that is used now. The city had previously planned to use the UV system as a backup to the hypochlorite system but with the new information gleaned from conversations with other municipalities, that plan will be reversed.

The council unanimously voted Tuesday to utilize a Wedeco UV system priced at a little more than $400,000 in the improved plant, choosing from among three bidders.

In other business, the council also heard from Chief Building Official Bruce Silva, who said consultants working with Tim Ashlock, owner of the embattled Lode Hotel, had shared with him a plan for shoring up the deteriorating structure, getting a permit to do repairs and then formulating improvement plans for a full restoration of the building.

“I’m seeing positive signs of moving ahead,” Silva said, leading into a March 17 deadline for Ashlock to submit plans to the city for the building’s restoration to avoid an abatement order that could lead to its eventual demolition.

Following a court ruling, an easement necessary for the city’s Murphys Grade Road waterline project was acquired from Robert and Kathleen Diebold.

The city will pay a price to be determined by the court for the property, which had been a point of contention between the government and the landowners leading up to the eminent domain proceedings.

    Contact Sean Janssen at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 736-8097.