The Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility will send four employees to the Water Environment Technology Conference from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 in Chicago.
Utility manager Ken Johnson shared this news Thursday at the utility commission’s meeting. He will attend the conference with operations director David Dean, technical services/GIS Supervisor David Poe, and environmental compliance director Vincent Miles.
They will network with peers from other communities and take part in educational seminars.
Johnson has been the manager at the utility since 1998 and worked for the utility since 1983. He said he will learn about topics related to management.
“You have heard the expression about sharpening the saw,” Johnson said. “You continue to gain skills and continue to gain knowledge. That keeps you sharp in the process. That is something I advocate here.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The wastewater utility supervisors receive training every three months “because you can always learn something new.”
The conference will take place at the McCormick Place in Chicago and feature 14,000 people. Johnson said the Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility will spend a total of $4,000 to attend the conference and pay for airfare and lodging.
“This is the premier conference in wastewater,” Johnson said.
In other news, Johnson recapped three rehabilitation projects that have been completed ahead of schedule. Customers did not experience disruptions.
Duke’s Root Control of Syracuse, New York, removed plant roots from the sewer system. Duke’s Root Control submitted a bid of $18,400 and has finished its project.
CTR Coatings of Knoxville, Tennessee, fixed 23 manholes by applying a new epoxy coating to prevent excess water from entering the pipes. CTR Coatings submitted a winning bid of $71,500.
Insituform Technologies submitted a bid of $384,000 to beat three other firms on a project involving a cured in place process in which contractors place new lines in dilapidated pipes that are leaking. This is a continuation of routine maintenance.
Insituaform reduced the price to $380,000 because the utility repaired a portion of a pipe, Johnson said.
In financial news, Johnson gave a financial report for the utility for the month of August. Johnson said the utility generated $635,591.98 in revenue and spent $489,167.73. Commissioners Lafayette Woods Jr., Lloyd Holcomb Sr., Carolyn Ferguson, Paul Bennett and Vandora Demery approved the financial report.
The utility is scheduled to have its next meeting at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.