By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously adopted a resolution to purchase land for construction of a new water treatment plant.
Board members took the action during their Oct. 12 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Thomas McGhee and seconded by Alderman Jon Crisp.
The resolution states that Millington’s north water plant has “far exceeded” its life expectancy, and that a new plant is needed north of Big Creek to provide necessary water pressure and flow for development.
It notes that the city has identified a “preferred” site northeast of the automobile dealership on Highway 51 that has 54.05 acres of undeveloped land, including approximately 135 feet of frontage on the highway.
With City Attorney Gerald Lawson’s approval, the resolution authorizes Mayor Terry Jones to execute a purchase contract with the landowner at a cost of $5,000 an acre.
During discussion shortly before the vote, City Finance Director John Trusty said the land is at an “excellent elevation” in relation to the remainder of the city. He noted that the frontage will provide ingress and egress but will “hide” the plant from the highway.
City Manager Ed Haley said an above-ground water tank and an underground reservoir, each with a 500,000-gallon capacity, will also be constructed on the site.
He noted that it will take three and a half years to build the plant, but only 14 months for the tank and reservoir. So, those two will initially be constructed while the plant is being designed, and the board is asked to approve funding for it.
“We’ve got two subdivisions competing to go up there,” Haley said. “So, what we’re trying to do is get the city where it can grow. Right now, you’re basically limited to what you have in the ground, which is not much.”
In a related action, on a motion offered by Alderman Bethany Huffman and seconded by Alderman Larry Dagen, the board unanimously adopted a resolution approving a contract for an additional elevated storage tank at Millington’s south water plant.
Shortly before the vote, Trusty noted that the board members were previously “aware” of the contract, because it had been discussed “for some time.”
The resolution states that “separation” of the two plants as part of the Big Creek Bridge Replacement Project identified a “serious pressure issue” with the water system south of the creek. The city decided that adding a tank at the south plant would be the best solution.
The resolution states that it was considered important to “move forward with haste” to design the tank. So, after consulting with individual aldermen, Haley had recommended approval of a contract with the Fisher Arnold engineering firm in Memphis.
On Sept. 21, Jones signed an $85,000 design contract with the firm.
The resolution states that the board’s vote “ratified and approved” the mayor’s action.
Haley said that, when the “north and south ends” are completed, the “total” project is expected to cost $6 million.
