Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson said he wants to see the county proceed with installing a grinder system as part of a sewer pretreatment solution for the county jail. Hampson made a motion Tuesday in an effort to improve relations with the city of Warrenton who had requested the grinder. That position, however, is opposed by the other two commissioners who feel a cheaper engineering option is sufficient in preventing further sewer main blockages. The two entities have been in a dispute on how to block clothing and other items from exiting the Warren County Courthouse and entering the city’s sewer system. In February, city workers discovered a jail jumpsuit and other garbage that apparently had been stuffed down toilets by inmates at the county jail and blocked the city’s sewer main. Last month, the city of Warrenton threatened to cut off water and sewer service to the Warren County Courthouse if the county does not make its preferred sewer pretreatment improvements by Oct. 12. In a letter sent to the county, the city reiterated the only acceptable pretreatment option is a bar screen and commutator, which is best described as a larger grinder. The county commission Tuesday voted 2-1 to sign a contract with Shafer, Kline and Warren to have the engineering firm proceed with designing the basket screen system, though it will be designed so that a grinder can be installed at a later date. Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage and Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner voted in support of proceeding with the contract, while Hampson was the lone dissenting vote. The design portion of the project will cost the county $10,400. Prior to the approval, Hampson made a motion for the county to proceed with having engineers design the grinder system only. That motion died for a lack of a second. Though he feels a grinder can be a maintenance nightmare, Hampson wants to see the latest dispute between the two governmental entities resolved. “I don’t agree with the grinder system, but it’s not a bad system,” Hampson said. “If it’s the difference between the city and the county (working together), we need to think about it.” The city is requesting the sewer pretreatment improvements since every manhole overflow must be reported as a violation to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and worries that similar incidents could cause damage to the sewer system. Under city code, it’s unlawful for any type of garbage to be discharged into the city’s sewer system. While the city feels it has the authority to impose the sewer pretreatment requirements, commissioners disagree. They said the city’s code book does not include any regulations requiring a grinder to be installed. That screening system proposed by the commission will catch solids in the manhole as it leaves the county’s sewer line and prior to entering the city’s system. The clothing and other large items would be removed by the county’s maintenance staff. An additional 2-inch by 2-inch galvanized grate will cover the outlet pipe prior to connecting with the existing city manhole. Engineers recommended a daily inspection of the system to insure the basket is free of debris and odors. According to an engineering report, the initial cost for the screen system is $24,100, with the annual operating and maintenance expense estimated to be $900. Over a 20-year period, engineers estimated the expense to be $35,300. A second pretreatment alternative reviewed by the engineer included installing a commutator and building an additional bypass manhole with galvanized grating for times when the shredder is undergoing maintenance. This option would cost an estimated $55,800 with annual operating and maintenance expenses of $3,900. Over a 20-year period, the projected cost is $104,400. For both options, engineers proposed installing a visible and audible alarm in the structure warning of a potential system backup or overflow problem. With the bidding process yet to begin on the sewer pretreatment project, it’s likely the county won’t meet the city’s Oct. 12 deadline, commissioners acknowledged Tuesday. “Hopefully we can work something out,” Engelage said. “If the basket doesn’t work, then we will add a grinder. If the basket works it will save the taxpayers’ money. It will get the same results. It will keep stuff out of the system. That is the goal.” Engelage and Kluesner also like how the basket system will collect items that are going through the courthouse’s sewer lines so that county staff can inspect what is being flushed down the toilets.