West Tawakoni Officials Scratch Heads Over Plant

It was back to the drawing board this week over the rust issue that has plagued the new West Tawakoni water plant from its beginning.

"We learned Tuesday that the process Tonka was using to eliminate rust issues in the water plant filters was not working," City Administrator Cloy Richards stated in a memo to Mayor Pete Yoho and council members. "The first filter they worked on is already showing rust again. On Wednesday, Tonka will be sending what they call their most senior field workers to further look into the issue."

Mayor Yoho responded with a letter to the companies involved in construction of the plant that include Tonka Water, TRC Solutions and JR Sheldon Company, "As the Mayor of the City of West Tawakoni, I am ordering my employees to stand down on any efforts to solve rusting issues on our new water plant filters. I am also instructing all communications between Tonka, JR Sheldon and TRC to the City of West Tawakoni will go through the city administrator. My employees will stand down until a plan is communicated to the city that will resolve this issue. No longer is ‘we don’t know why this is happening’ an acceptable answer concerning filter rust. We do know this. What has been done up to this point has not worked and we will not allow any duplication of those failed efforts."

Steven R. Kari, engineering vice president for Tonka Equipment Co. of Plymouth, Minn., responded to Yoho, "We were surprised by this news but immediately called a meeting to review the issue, discuss alternatives and set some plans. We have already been in contact with Tnemec (paint supplier), as we developed and fully implemented this repair plan under their direction."

Kari further states, "We want you to know we are working on this issue with urgency. We understand the City of West Tawakoni’s concern and frustration with this issue."

Richards brought the council up to date at the regular meeting Tuesday night. He said the Tonka representatives were expected the following day. "We may not know any more when they leave Thursday," he said, noting that they would probably take samples back to Minnesota with them.

"They assured us this was going to work. It didn’t work. That’s our next challenge," Richards told the council, referring to the company’s efforts over the past few weeks to remove material from the filters at the new plant, repaint and refill them.