SALISBURY — The city council approved an approximately $650,000 contract on Tuesday for the installation of a sodium hypochlorite generation system at the Salisbury-Rowan Utilities facility.

The system in question is used by SRU at its downtown facility to generate sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, that is then used to treat and disinfect drinking water. Assistant Director Jim Amaral provided a small history lesson, speaking about how SRU had used chlorine to clean its drinking water before 1994. That year, a chlorine gas leak shut down multiple blocks near the downtown facility, causing the organization to begin to transition to bleach. SRU had fully transitioned by 2004.

The lowest bid was submitted by De Nora Water Technologies, who submitted a lump sum price of $647,668. Other bids were submitted by Creston Water Solutions at $684,100, and Clearwater, Inc. at $998,000.

Amaral added that SRU already uses De Nora equipment, so employees were already familiar with the newer system.

“There have been some minor upgrades (in the current system), but it’s really an unplug and replace due to it being the same manufacturer. Our team is also familiar with the technology, I’m familiar with the support team of De Nora Tech,” said Amaral.

SRU has two bleach generation cells at the facility, and they have replaced six of those cells over the 20 years the system has been in operation. Amaral said that the cells have a five-year life expectancy, with SRU’s lengthened lifespan being due to proactive cleaning and preventative maintenance.

SRU Director Jason Wilson said that funding for the installation was already in the city’s budget. After the presentation, the members of the council voted unanimously to award the contract to De Nora Water Technologies.

City Manager Jim Greene Jr. pointed out an item on the consent agenda for the meeting, the approval of a $257,379 contract for the rehabilitation of a secondary clarifier at the Grants Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, as evidence of the priority that the council and city administration have placed upon investing into the city’s sewer and water systems.

“You had an item under consent agenda and now the item in front of you on the regular agenda (add up to) about a million dollars, plus or minus. Again, investment in our water and sewer infrastructure has been a priority of council,” said Greene.

In other news from the city council meeting on Tuesday:

• Residents of Eagle Heights and Country Club Hills continued to ask the city to consider remedying traffic concerns around a proposed 94-home development nearby on Sells Road. Residents have appeared at three city council meetings in a row to voice their concerns, and on Tuesday resident Leigh Ann Norris shared an action plan that had been developed with city staff that included transportation staff working to lower the trip generation threshold that triggers a required traffic study, contacting the N.C. Department of Transportation to ask for a school traffic study centered around North Hills Christian School and asking both residents and city staff to research grants and other funding opportunities to fund a traffic impact analysis on both Sells and Old Mocksville roads due to the continued growth in the area.
• The council approved a rezoning from General Residential to Heavy Industrial for a property in the 400 block of Majolica Road. The property is owned by Old Carolina Brick and the rezoning allows the company to expand its operations.
• The council approved the rezoning from Rural Residential to Highway Business of a property near Kelly Drive. The property is owned by Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, who plan to sell it to adjacent Sunbelt Rentals so that Sunbelt can expand their operations.
• The council issued a resolution of support for the renaming of the stretch of Interstate 85 from mile marker 75 to Bringle Ferry Road to Elizabeth Dole Highway in honor of former Senator, Secretary of Labor and Red Cross President Dole. Both the city and Rowan County have issued resolutions of support and would split the cost of sign installation at the request of N.C. Representative Harry Warren’s office. “I think this is wonderful to do, to honor somebody who has been so incredible and brought so much positive attention to Salisbury, North Carolina,” said Council Member Susan Kluttz.
• Both Mayor Pro Tem Harry McLaughlin and Council Member Carlton Jackson said that they have received complaints about the temporary traffic circle that had been placed at the intersection of West Horah and Partee streets. The traffic circle was installed there as a temporary measure to study and receive comments on the potential effectiveness of a permanent speed control measure at the intersection.