Kodiak seeks money for new water pumps

The city of Kodiak will ask the Alaska Legislature for $5.7 million to replace pumps that supply water to residents and the fishing industry.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror (http://is.gd/fpagWy) reports workers two years ago tried to start up one of the three pumps to meet increased demand and its motor caught on fire. A day later, the starter on a second pump failed.

Public works director Mark Kozak says no one knows the age of the pumps and replacement parts must be individually machined because the company who made them is no longer in the business.

The money also would repair the pump house constructed in 1972. Kozak says cracks run the length of the building and bats have nested in it for years.