By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham Sewer Department soon will get some much-needed upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant after the City Council approved about $1.4 million in upgrades to the plant.

During the Nov. 18 meeting, the council voted unanimously to award a $1.46 million bid to the Mark Johnson Construction company to make several upgrades to the treatment plant.

Pelham Public Works Director Eddy Jowers said the renovations are badly needed, as the original equipment at the plant has been in place for more than 10 years.

“It’s some exterior concrete work. They will install a bar screen that will act as a filter coming into the plant,” Jowers told council members during the meeting. “Mostly, it’s some drainage aspects.”

The expense was the largest single capital improvement expense included in the city’s 2014 fiscal year budget, which also included projects to fund renovations to City Hall, purchase new police and fire vehicles and repave portions of 20 roads throughout the city.