Disposable sanitary wipes are reportedly clogging Owensville sewer pumps, prompting the city’ public works director to ask residents to avoid flushing them down toilets.

Jeff Kuhne told aldermen on Monday that 2020 “is the year of lost manpower pulling pumps” in reference to clearing clogs created by the sanitary wipes.

Kuhne told The Republican earlier in the day his Public Works employees were pulling the pump at the Seventh Street lift station at least once a week to clear clogs. Sanitary wipes have been found wrapped around in the lift-station pump’s intake impeller. This shuts off, or greatly restricts, the flow of water into the pump, said Kuhne. Eventually, it will burn out the pump if blockage isn’t caught in time and cleared.

“Any disinfectant wipes need to go in your trash,” said Kuhne, asking that residents across the city follow this request. “This system isn’t made to handle this trash.”

Aldermen on Monday also agreed to take final action on a change order to a city paving bid for work on the connector road being built off of Springfield Road. A discussion is planned Thursday between LSC Communications staff, their contractor, and city representatives. The proposed roadway will now be a concrete driving surface. A quote for asphalt was previously prepared. Kuhne said the cost difference was not expected to be too much greater than the $140,430 figure cited previously.