Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said Siemens Water Technologies Corp. officials are striving to get a sludge-related process working at the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant after a recent internal audit found an investment of $15 million is not functioning.
The problem involves the filter press system, which Mr. Littlefield said turns waste into “class A” fertilizer that can be applied to land.
Siemens has entered an agreement with the city to repair the system by late May, said Richard Beeland, spokesman for Mr. Littlefield. Mr. Beeland said an additional month will be given for system testing.
U.S. Filter Corp. got the project in 2001. The company later was purchased by Siemens.
“They’re working furiously to get at least one of those presses working within that period of time to demonstrate that their system works,” Mr. Littlefield said.
If the company cannot get the filter press working, he said the city will sue.
Asked if he is considering firing any city employees over this matter, Mr. Littlefield said, “I’m not going to even go that far to tell you. … I’m considering all the options. That’s all I really wish to say about that.”
Mr. Littlefield said the Jordan, Jones & Goulding firm has been hired as a consultant to look over the project.
Cutting the commute
At Friday’s meeting of Tennessee Department of Transportation and local officials to discuss a toll road project that would include a bridge connecting Soddy-Daisy and Harrison, some disagreed about just how much commuting time it would save.
Kelly Paul, a consultant with Cambridge Systematics, said someone driving from U.S. Highway 27 to state Highway 58 would save about 10 minutes by taking one of the proposed bridge routes.
Hamilton County Commission Chairman Bill Hullander said he did an Internet search of a route from Commissioner Fred Skillern’s house to a restaurant he likes on Mahan Gap Road. He said his research showed a 15-minute reduction.
“I guess I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more than 10 minutes savings,” he said.
Soddy-Daisy Mayor Bob Privett didn’t guess how much time the bridge might save but said his company’s trucks take an hour to get across the river.
State Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, said determining just how much time the bridge would save will be important in determining the bridge route.
Albertini exits senate contest
About two weeks after telling the Chattanooga Times Free Press that he was challenging U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in the August GOP primary, Chattanooga real estate investor Mark Albertini said last week that he has opted not to take on the incumbent.
In a statement, Mr. Albertini said he has “had great struggle in arriving at this decision.”
“I knew the odds were nearly insurmountable before I entered the race but a deep concern for our nation and a determination to stand for what I believe is right drove my ambitions,” he said. “I have determined there are other ways I can affect change statewide and nationally through writing and other activities for the present.”
Mr. Albertini ran in the GOP primaries for last year’s 10th state Senate District special election and in the 2006 Tennessee governor’s race.
Sen. Alexander, the state’s senior senator, won his seat in 2002 and is running for a second six-year term.
Floyd running again
Tennessee state Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, announced Monday that he plans to run for re-election to the General Assembly this year.
He spoke at the weekly meeting of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club, a GOP organization.
Rep. Floyd said that legislators will have to deal with a tight budget this year.
“We’re going to find out this year how well we can govern,” he said.
Young professionals: why chattanooga?
The Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga is planning to take part in this year’s Young Professionals Global Impact Survey, which asks participants, all between ages 20 and 40, how appealing their city is, according to a news release.
Among the questions in the survey:
* Does Chattanooga have what it takes to attract and engage the next generation?
* How engaged are the YP’s in Chattanooga?
The survey will be available at ypacnow.org starting Monday. It will be available until March 14, according to the release.
“It’s important that we understand how young talent perceives the Chattanooga community,” said Kate West, president and founder of the Chattanooga branch. “That way, we can make the enhancements required to engage and keep them.”
film commission meets next month
Documentary filmmaker Terry Benedict is slated to attend a March “meet and greet” sponsored by the Chattanooga/Southeast Tennessee Film Commission.
The event will be held at the NorthShore Grill on Frazier Avenue from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 13, according to a news release.
Michael Barnes, who heads the East Tennessee Television & Film Commission, also will be there.
“It is an honor and privilege to host a meet and greet where local film enthusiasts can have the opportunity to interact with such established individuals in the film and television community as Michael Barnes and Terry Benedict,” Kurt Faires, chairman of the local film commission, said in the release.
To reserve a spot, call Laurie Shipley at 425-7826 or e-mail shipley_l@mail.chattanooga .gov.
