The methane-powered generator at the Catoosa County landfill is due for an overhaul, county finance director Carl Henson told commissioners Tuesday.

The cost will about $50,000, which includes nearly $14,000 for scheduled maintenance, nearly $30,000 to replace a turbocharger, and some additional costs, Henson said at the Board of Commissioners' meeting.

The generator uses methane gas, produced by underground garbage at the landfill, to produce electricity. Tennessee Valley Authority pays the county about $50,000 a month, on average, for the electricity.

Prior to the generator being installed, the annual cost to maintain and monitor the landfill’s capped sites on Shope Ridge Road was more than $250,000 annually. These procedures are required by state and federal regulations.

Henson said the generator is fast-approaching its scheduled maintenance at 10,000 hours of operation. He said the maintenance could be performed for $13,781, but Nixon Energy has also recommended that the equipment’s $29,099 turbocharger be replaced during the scheduled maintenance.

The new turbocharger must be ordered from the company that builds the generator in Austria, Henson said. Once the new turbocharger is installed, the old one can be sent to be overhauled, for additional costs, and would be available as a replacement the next time maintenance is required. Having a replacement on-hand would also mean the county would not lose two weeks worth of electricity sales to TVA, Henson said.

In other business at the Feb. 19 meeting, commissioners took action to condemn certain parcels of property, if necessary, to extend the sewerage work in the Three Notch Road area.

“This is a necessary part of the process that must be followed if easements must be obtained by condemnation,” county attorney Chad Young said. To date any such action has been reached by mutual agreement with all parties concerned, he said.

Commission chairman Keith Greene said, “It is our hope that this resolution does not mean sewer lines will be run across private property without the owner’s consent. Hopefully, we can reach agreement and move forward without going to court.”

Sidney and Carol Irving, whose property was one of the parcels voted on, were on-hand and told commissioners they were currently in negotiation with Ringgold city manager Dan Wright on the matter.