EAST LIVERPOOL — The East Liverpool Board of Public Utilities announced the winning bids for water plant Chemical during Thursday’s board meeting.

The winning bids were USAlco for Poly aluminum chloride (PAC) for 0.374 per pound; Bonded Chemical for activated carbon, 99 bag minimum delivered for $1.32 per pound; Bonded for sodium silicofluouride, 5,000 pounds minimum delivered for $1.46 per pound; potassium permanganate, one pallet minimum for $3.98 per pound; Orthophosphate, two tote minimum for $7.30 per gallon, sodium thiosulphate for $0.3068 per pound; Sal Chemical for liquid alum for $1.809 per gallon; Univar for sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) for $813 per dry ton and JCI Jones for sodium hypochlorite, 3,500 gallon minimum delivered for $1.88 per gallon.

The bid for water meters with no listed price was awarded to Neptune Equipment Company as there were the only bidder.

Water Superintendent Paul McCarthy gave the board an update on the number two river pump which he said should be up and running in approximately two to three weeks and that work has started on the water intake project and there is fairly good progress there. He also noted there were some issues with the motors at the Haywood Booster Station. He has a spare motor and with prior authorization from Board Member Tim Clark he ordered another one.

Line Foreman Jayson Jackson said they were going to be short an employee at the plant due to having one resigning. The employee’s last day will be Friday. He also told the board that the crews were going to 10-hour workdays beginning April 1 due to them being so far behind. He noted the union did not need to sign off on the change if was signed off on by Safety Service Director Bill Jones. Board Member Ray Sullivan said they would discuss that change and take it into consideration.

Jackson said the plant’s trailer would need to be replaced and provided an estimate of $10,900. Sullivan told him the amount of funds allotted for equipment had already been spent. Sullivan then made a motion which was seconded by board member Jim Swoger to void a purchase order from last year for the purchase of a car and put those funds back into the equipment fund. Sullivan and Swoger both voted in favor of that motion. Board member Tim Clark was absent.

Wastewater Superintendent Dave Freeman told the board the department had gotten the backhoe back and used that to remove sludge.

He also said that all the safety issues and workers compensation violations at the plant had been addressed and taken care of.

Freeman reported electrical issues at the plant and the need to purchase bearings.

Sullivan and Swoger voted to approve the electrical project with an estimated cost of $9,300 and the cost of bearings for the plant. Jackson is to get a quote on installation.

The Board of Public Utilities meets the third Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 18.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com