Callaway, county to discuss lift station Sept. 2

PANAMA CITY — Callaway and Bay County officials will hold a joint meeting Sept. 2 to discuss possible solutions to the Cherry Street lift station problem after they did not reach a definitive solution Tuesday.

Staffs from each entity met in a “conflict assessment meeting” but agreed only that each will make a proposal to their respective commissions.

The county staff’s proposal is for Callaway to pay $308,250 in construction costs to repair the Cherry Street lift station, using the $388,988 of Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) rebate the county is currently withholding from Callaway. As to the remaining $161,009 the county billed Callaway in May, the county is suggesting a jointly funded engineering study to determine the proper course of action: either replacing the odor control system or injecting chemical treatment farther up Callaway’s system, likely at Allanton and Sandy Creek.

If chemical treatment is the recommendation, Callaway would be on the hook for the $161,009, but if the study determines the air treatment system is responsible for the hydrogen sulfide buildup, the county would pay the remainder. Plus, Callaway would need to pay to treat its system.

Callaway City Attorney Kevin Obos’ concern with this proposal is that an engineer could do the study and still not come away with a clear solution.

Callaway’s proposal is to avoid another study by both injecting their system with caustic soda, a cheaper alternative to chemical treatment, and replace the air treatment system. Obos hypothetically proposed an air treatment system costing $150,000. That $150,000 would be added on top of the total repair cost of $469,259 the county billed to Callaway for repairs in May and then split roughly down the middle, with Callaway contributing all of the $388,988 in rebate. Callaway would pay for the cost of caustic soda implementation.

“What if this doesn’t work?” County Manager Ed Smith asked.

Obos and City Manager Michael Fuller responded the problem then would be in Callaway’s system and the city would assume responsibility.

Neither proposal involves any money from AWT partners Springfield and Parker.

The county repaired the AWT-owned Cherry Street lift station, acting as operator, in January and then billed Callaway for the cost in May because the hydrogen sulfide responsible came from Callaway’s system. The wet well of the lift station was damaged due to hydrogen sulfide induced corrosion.

The meeting Sept. 2 will come after the regular 9 a.m. Bay County Commission meeting in the Bay County Government Center on 11th Street in Panama City.