JEROME - The Jerome City Council agreed Wednesday to spend between $80,000 and $100,000 for an emergency repair to Jerome's wastewater treatment plant.

The latest round of problems at the facility began Monday night when a 1.5-year-old membrane blower failed after 11,100 hours of service.

Water Works Director John Boyd said the two-inch blower shaft twisted and severed into two pieces and was not repairable. It destroyed the interior components of the blower, he said.

"I can't tell you why it broke without sending it for an analysis," Boyd said.

He said he expects the plant's two other blowers to fail eventually. Boyd said if one of them fails before the city replaces the damaged blower, Jerome would be out of compliance with a permit from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for two to three weeks.

He said the replacement blower is expected to be more efficient, have a longer expected lifespan and be quieter than the one that blew out Monday.

The council, which was holding a rare Wednesday meeting to canvass election returns and to authorize Mayor Charles Correll to sign a lease for the new senior center, added the emergency measure for the wastewater plant to the agenda.

City Administrator Ben Marchant said it could take three to four weeks for delivery.

Ongoing problems have plagued the wastewater plant, some of which have generated odors for surrounding residents.