PELHAM – The Pelham City Council approved the purchase of a stationary dry prime pump for Sewer Lift Station F, which is a part of the city’s sewer system, at a meeting on Monday, Dec. 18.

The council accepted the $81,225 bid from the lowest responsive bidder, Jim House and Associates. Public Works Director Eddy Jowers said the installation of the dry prime pump, which operates using natural gas, will be completed by spring 2018.

The pump will serve as a backup pump in the event of a power failure at the lift station, Jowers said.

“In the event that the power goes off, this pump will automatically come on to keep sewage from overflowing into the creek,” he said.

Jowers said the pump will permanently sit atop an elevated platform attached to the lift station.

“We’re going to elevate it so that it won’t be affected by flooding,” he said. “It’s not completely failsafe, but it is an improvement from what we have.”

Currently when the lift station loses power, a portable pump is transported and put in place at the lift station. Jowers said having a permanent backup pump located at the station that turns on automatically will also be safer for Sewer Department employees. The new pump will prevent crews from having to go out in bad weather to transport and turn on the portable pump they currently use.

The money to cover the cost of the dry prime pump is being pulled from the Sewer Department’s Fixed Asset line item. The council approved a budget of $243,800 for the line item in its fiscal year 2018 budget. After this purchase, there will be a remaining budget balance of $162,575.

In other business, the council:

-Approved a business license application for new business Johnathan Motors LLC.

-Approved a resolution to grant a special use permit to T-Mobile for modifications of equipment to the existing wireless telecommunications facility located at 198 Parkview Drive.