Council approves utility capital projects, sludge removal contract and vendor agreements

Bolivar council members approved multiple utility and capital items during the September meeting, including an ARPA-funded contract to remove sludge from lagoon Cell 1, a utility shop building contract and an agreement to use a third-party design services firm for future capital projects.

Sludge removal: The council approved a $720,580 contract to remove sludge from Lagoon Cell 1, funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies. The utility board had recommended the project and the council carried a motion to approve the award. The contract amount was described as below the ground budgeted amount for the full program; council members said the award had a positive recommendation from the utility board and the city’s engineers.

Utility shop building: The council opened sealed bids for a 40-by-60 utility shop and awarded the contract to Blue Steel Manufacturing (Henderson) at a total building cost of $73,706.18. Council members discussed the trade-offs between awarding a lower out-of-town bid and supporting a local contractor; the board ultimately recommended and the council moved forward with the low bid.

Solar panels and energy savings: Utility staff reported that solar panels were installed at the water plant and that technical commissioning of the inverter/software was expected the week of the meeting. Utility staff estimated the water plant’s monthly electric bill at roughly $12,000–$14,000 and said the solar installation is expected to pay for itself in about eight years and reduce operating costs going forward.

Procurement: The council approved a single bid for 8-cubic-yard dumpsters from Waste Equipment at $1,078 each (nine units; total $9,702), an item the council said fit within the procurement budget.

Project delivery services: The council also voted to enter an agreement with Performance Services to provide front-end design budgeting and value-engineering on future city projects, a process the mayor described as intended to keep projects within budget before bidding. Councilmembers asked whether the arrangement created any open-ended cost to the city; staff said Performance Services’ fees would be included in individual project budgets (similar to engineering fees) and would not trigger standalone payments outside a specific project. Council approved the agreement subject to the city attorney’s review and standard contract procedures.

YMCA project: Staff reported they have submitted plans and materials to USDA and expected an answer on appropriation approval within 30 to 60 days.

Why it matters: The approved actions allocate ARPA funding for wastewater maintenance, advance energy reduction measures at the water plant, and position the city to use a design-to-budget approach on future capital projects. Council discussion highlighted local procurement preferences and the need for attorney review of outside agreements.

Decisions taken: Sludge removal contract ($720,580) — approved; 40x60 building award to Blue Steel Manufacturing ($73,706.18) — approved; dumpster procurement ($9,702) — approved; agreement with Performance Services to provide project design-to-budget services — approved subject to contract review by the city attorney. The council also directed staff to monitor project schedules and provide updates.

Ending: Staff said they will return with contract documents and scheduling details; the sludge removal and building contracts will proceed through standard procurement and execution steps.