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SALEM -- The utilities department is inviting the public to learn about the upgrades which have been made to the city's wastewater treatment plant during an upcoming open house.
During the utilities commission's September meeting, the commissioners announced that the department will host an open house at the wastewater treatment plant at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 following the commission's next meeting.
The open house will offer attendees an opportunity to take guided tours of the plant and learn about the upgrades made across the facility over the last several years. Attendees will also be able to enjoy light refreshments including punch and cookies.
While the open house was first tentatively scheduled to be held in August, the decision was made to defer it until September while efforts to complete final punch list items across the plant were ongoing. It was rescheduled again in the commissioner's August meeting amid staffing vacancies to give newly hired employees time to acclimate prior to the open house.
The commissioners have discussed the open house several times over the past year, with the commissioners stating they feel it is important city residents have the opportunity to see the upgrades that have been made and learn why they were necessary.
"We're going to have note cards and [tour guides] can go to each of the parts that have been upgraded and they'll have bullet points so they can say 'this tank had 1,400 leaks in it and bricks falling from the face of it, and this is what we did to bring it back up to speed,' so people know what we were doing and why we did it," Commission Chair Bob Hodgson said.
Hodgson commended Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Dean Stokes for his thoroughness in compiling a list of every upgrade made at the plant with explanations of how it will improve the plant's operations in preparation for the open house.
Hodgson suggested that in addition to converting that list into note cards for tour leaders, the department should have informational signs made to station around the plant.
"What I'd like to do is see if we can get one of the local print shops to do a bullet point placard for each [upgrade] so when everybody is standing there if they can't hear the guide, they can at least see what the key points are," he said.
With the date officially set, Hodgson said that he'd like the department to begin publicizing the event through the city's communication channels. He also requested the commissioners and department staff meet to finalize additional details, such as who will lead tours and their order now that operations have settled at the plant since recent staffing vacancies have been filled.
The utilities commission will meet next at 3 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the wastewater treatment plant board room.