By Greg Ellison

(June 17, 2021) The Berlin mayor and Town Council highlighted the upcoming national Pollinator Week and approved emergency generator repairs at its meeting Monday.

National Pollinator Week

To officially unveil the 2021 National Pollinator Week, slated from June 21-27, Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall read a proclamation designating the municipality’s observance of the annual celebration.

Noting Berlin is an affiliate of Bee City USA, Tyndall outlined the ecological significance of pollen-spreading insects.

Pollinator species, including but not limited to bees, play a vital role, as their natural processes are essential for producing food supplies.

Pollinator species also provide environmental benefits and are an important element for supporting biodiverse ecosystems in urban and suburban areas.

Tyndall’s proclamation also highlighted the importance of pollinator species to support trees and plant life, whose presence enhances quality of life and provides recreational economic development opportunities.

Tyndall also said that Berlin could provide landscaping recommendations to residents and housing developers to promote conservation practices in hopes of preserving pollinator habitats.

Economic & Community Development Director Ivy Wells said numerous local businesses would be participating in National Pollinator Week, with relevant information displayed in shop windows.

Generator repairs

Stormwater and Wastewater Superintendent Jamey Latchum updated the council on costs for recent repairs to a town-owned 1,000 KW generator.

“We had a radiator that started leaking,” he said.

“We were dumping anti-freeze every week.”

The stopgap measure for the large capacity equipment was eating up about a case of anti-freeze weekly, Latchum said.

After conferring with other town officials, Lackey found a less costly avenue than dropping roughly $48,000 for a new radiator.

“We were able to re-core it, which brought it down to $21,603,” he said.

Other costs incurred during the rehab period included about $22,000 to rent a standby generator, which is required by state mandates.

“It’s repaired, back up and running,” he said.

Regardless of the lower price for repair versus replacement, the town still obtained warranty coverage equivalent to buying a new radiator.

“It saved us roughly $20,000 by re-coring it,” he said.

Latchum said the total expenditure was about $44,000 that would be covered from his departments’ FY21 budget.

Councilman Dean Burrell moved to approve the emergency expenditure, and the council agreed unanimously.