Aldermen discuss wastewater plant and system improvements

Snow blankets the ground Dec. 23, 2022, at California City Hall. (Kaden Quinn/California Democrat photo)
Snow blankets the ground Dec. 23, 2022, at California City Hall. (Kaden Quinn/California Democrat photo)


The Board of Aldermen considered an issue that has vexed the city of California for some time.

Members, during their meeting on Monday, discussed the condition of the city's wastewater treatment plant and improvements that could be made to the system.

In a previous Democrat article, Mayor Rich Green explained the facility is three years past its lifespan and running twice its design capacity.

During the meeting, the board and California wastewater supervisor Patrick Murphy evaluated a 14-page document (referred to as the "roadmap document") developed by engineering firm, Bartlett and West. Although a five-year plan, the document could act as a roadmap for keeping the city's wastewater treatment plant reliably operational for the forthcoming 10 years.

Murphy said the document was created to determine what improvements or repairs are most necessary within the next five years.

He explained the document is focused on the wastewater treatment for the immediate time frame and does not address capacity upgrades.

"This basically is just to get the facility back to a good operational state, since it's now moving on to 23 years old," Murphy said.

He said a wastewater evaluation showed what is not currently functioning or is at high risk of potential failure. The roadmap highlighted various different elements and prioritized repairs based on what might be the most at risk to the facilities operation and remaining within permanent limits.

The document recommended several improvements to the wastewater facility. This includes, improving the electronics and supervisory control and data acquisition system, which is a control system that monitors processes in the structure -- a high priority for Murphy. Other improvements would be to change the sluice gates, which direct flow throughout the facility, and repair clarifiers, which are settling tanks used to remove liquid from solid material.

In other business:

The Board of Aldermen approved the resignation of Ward 3 Alderman Conrad "Buck" Moody. Moody decided to vacate the position of alderman and withdraw from the city's mayoral race due to health concerns.

Following this, members then approved the nomination of Ward 3 candidate Ronnie Korte to fill the vacant position.

According to a statement from the City of California Facebook written by Mayor Green, mayoral candidate Lanny Ash and Ward 3 alderwoman candidate Resa Dudley will be running unopposed for April's municipal elections.

Note: This article is the first half of a two part piece on the City of California Board of Aldermen's February meeting.