Tuscumbia Council approves waterfall pump repair

It has been some time since the waterfall in Spring Park in downtown Tuscumbia has been working correctly.

It takes two pumps to run the feature, and currently both are out of commission.

According to Parks and Recreation Director Brooks Canup, earlier this year the waterfall was turned on using one pump, but it only worked about 12 hours before malfunctioning.

That pump can be fixed, however, and the City Council unanimously approved accepting a $5,400 bid from Jay Industrial Repair in Sheffield at its meeting on Aug. 5. The money will come from the general fund.

“In the waterfall we have to have two pumps to operate it correctly,” Canup said. “We have taken both of the pumps out. We have people contacting us every day asking about the waterfall.”

The other pump is not salvageable, but Canup said the city has found a donor willing to help with securing another pump.

He said once both pumps are in place, the waterfall feature will finally be running again in Spring Park.

Since Canup was named the Parks and Recreation director earlier this year, the City has worked to clean up the park, held the annual removal of aquatic vegetation and fixed the fountain show feature, which was also down thanks to its own issues, including a lightning strike to its computer system.

The waterfall marks one of the last major projects needed for the park.

“The biggest challenge is to upkeep it, but we’re going to make our park look how it should,” Canup said.

In related news, the Council voted to surplus the children’s roller coaster found in the park during the meeting, with Council member Katie Logan telling audience members a new area for children will replace the feature, but currently nothing is set in stone.