Following the approval of a sewer rate decrease, the city council approved replacement parts for the wastewater treatment and water plants, of more than $58,000 and $29,000, respectively. At the first city council meeting of December, Public Works Director Chad Birdsong asked for the approval of an auger and compactor for the plant. “In the wastewater treatment plant headworks building, the plant has an auger and compactor that takes debris from the bar screen, presses the water out of it, and then pushes the debris into a dumpster for removal. Due to the wear over the 10 years of operation since plant startup, this item is in need of replacement,” said Birdsong. Letts, Van Kirk and Associates prepared a quote for the replacement of the auger, transmission and gear box of the machine, totaling $27,510.06. Birdsong noted during the meeting that his staff did receive a quote from JCI Industries Inc. for a different type of system, but “it was...