Aberdeen City Council OK's $5.4M engineering services agreement for water plant upgrades

Elisa Sand, Aberdeen News
·4 min read

The Aberdeen City Council agreed to move forward with a professional engineering services agreement for designing, biding and construction administration of the city's water reclamation plant.

That agreement is for $5.4 million. The city council reviewed the agreement Tuesday and discussed a negotiated stipulation.

This agreement will cover the planning and preparation needed for $57 million in improvements at the plant that are expected to expand wastewater treatment capacity from 8 million gallons per day to 12 million gallons per day.

The city has already approved a $32,426,100 loan agreement through the state revolving fund. The remainder of the financing is coming from $5 million in city funds and nearly $18.9 million in grant funding from the state. Bidding is expected to happen in 2024.

City Manager Joe Gaa said one aspect of the professional services agreement includes an additional $1.56 million for engineering services during construction, which is expected to last 32 months.

While Gaa said city officials believe having an onsite engineer available during construction is a critical component to the project, he's unsure if $1.56 million to relocate an engineer for 32 months is the best use of city funds.

"By the end of 2023, we'll have to see if we can do that in house," he said. "For $1.6 million we should have a little discussion about that."

Agreement approved for airport improvements

In other discussion, the council also approved a request to move forward with a grant application and approve a $100,000 grant award to design runway 13/31 shoulder rehabilitation and for lighting improvements at Aberdeen Regional Airport. The city and state each provide a 5% match, or $2,500.

According to background information on the proposed project, the runway pavement is showing distress and is in need of rehabilitation. Last reconstructed in 1997, the runway is showing joint seal damage, joint spalls, corner spalls and linear cracks.

Additionally, lights along the runway need to be replaced, according to the project summary.

Transportation Director Rich Krokel work is scheduled to happen in 2024, so this is the first step needed to move forward.

In other action, the council:

  • Approved the first reading of a city ordinance for the 2023 budget. The ordinance was approved as presented.

  • Approved the $41,790 purchase of a 2022 Ford F-150 from Pierson Ford. The city sought bids for the purchase of several fleet vehicles in 2022, but rejected bids for two half-ton pickups as they were higher than expected. Staff have been monitoring prices and this vehicle became available. No half-ton options are available, but this will fill a purchase intended in 2021.

  • Approved a sign encroachment license to allow for the installation of a new sign at 902 S. Main St, the Squire Agency building. The new sign will be to the north of the existing sign, which will be removed, and will hang over a portion of the west sidewalk on Main Street. It is not expected to interfere with pedestrian traffic. City Attorney Ron Wager said the encroachment is the same as the existing sign, and a zoning permit and variance will also be needed for the new sign installation to move forward.

  • Approved the purchase of 2,000 ton of deicing salt at $87.90 per ton, or $175,800, from Black Strap Inc.

  • Awarded 2022 cab and chassis bid of $101,650 to Crawford Truck and Equipment; refuse packer body bid of $82,490 to Olympic Sales; and the trade-in purchase of the city's existing truck to Truck Centers for $48,000.

  • Approved a $927,117 payment to Reede Construction for work on North Dakota Street and a $212,131 payment to Dahme Construction for work on South Roosevelt Street. Public Works Director Robin Bobzien said Reede Construction is working on the finishing touches along North Dakota Street, and he anticipates completion of that work in the next couple weeks. Work on South Roosevelt Street, which was a late-season project that came up when officials discovered a need to repair sewer line in that area, is progressing slower than anticipated due to higher levels of ground water than anticipated, he said.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Aberdeen City Council awards agreement for wastewater plant upgrade