Carbon moves on water tank inspection

By Jarrad Hedes

jmhedes@tnonline.com

Carbon County is moving forward with an inspection of a water tank at its correctional facility, hoping to ward off any future problems.

Commissioners on Thursday approved a proposal from Pittsburg Tank and Tower Group of Henderson, Kentucky, to complete an exterior and interior inspection for $1,650.

“We haven’t had an inspection done on the tank since we had water problems at the prison, in fact I don’t know if one has ever been done on it,” Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said. “We, as well as the prison board, thought this was something we needed to do. It’s our hope it helps alleviate any further issues there.”

The inspection was one of the recommendations that came out of a Carbon Engineering report on the prison’s water system.

In May, commissioners said if the inspection shows the 100,000-gallon tank must be drained, cleaned and repainted, it will take approximately a month and a backup supply would be needed.

At the time, Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said he believed the biggest issues with the tank were leaks in the tank and the piping.

“There isn’t anything specific we’re expecting to find,” Gerhard said on Thursday. “It’s just a good idea to have this done.”

According to the proposal, the interior inspection will be done by a remote operated vehicle inspection robot. The cost approved Thursday includes a detailed report of the findings.

Wanted: Lifeguards

In other matters, the county is still looking for lifeguards to cover shifts at Mauch Chunk Lake.

The board authorized advertising the position from August and the Labor Day weekend. There are currently three vacant positions.

Not having a full compliment to staff the lake has been a problem for years.

The board previously raised the hourly rate, but have still been seeing fewer applicants applying to be lifeguards.