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Board approves $15.6M construction funding, awards $12.36M contract for Blue River Main plant upgrades
Summary
Johnson County authorized construction funding for Phase 2 improvements to the Blue River Main wastewater treatment facility and awarded a $12,363,750 contract to Crossland Heavy Contractors; total project authorization rises to $18,279,000.
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners on April 24 approved funding for the construction phase of the Blue River Main wastewater treatment facility Phase 2 improvements and awarded the construction contract to Crossland Heavy Contractors.
The board adopted a resolution authorizing up to $15,613,500 for the construction phase — an action that increases the total project authorization to $18,279,000. The construction contract awarded under invitation for bid 2025‑001 is $12,363,750; the board and project staff said the larger funding authorization covers the contractor bid plus engineering construction‑phase services, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) integration work, and a contingency amount the county set at 7.5 percent.
During the required public hearing, resident Ben Hobert asked why the funding authorization exceeded the contract award by approximately $3.3 million. Susan Pekarek, general manager for Johnson County Wastewater, explained that the higher authorization includes not only the construction bid but also engineering construction‑phase services, SCADA integration and contingency funds and pointed the board to a cost table in the briefing materials.
Commissioners praised the wastewater staff and the plant crew for careful engineering and reuse of existing equipment where feasible. Commissioner Brewer said bids were reasonable and thanked staff for a detailed project briefing and plant tour. Commissioner Ashcraft asked about contingency levels; staff said the 7.5 percent contingency reflects project‑specific risk assessed with the design engineer and that contingency levels vary with project risk and market conditions.
The contract award and the funding resolution passed on roll calls that recorded unanimous support (Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Hanslick, Ashcraft and Chair Mike Kelly voting aye). County staff said the project will proceed as a phased construction effort using previously authorized design and study phases and will report progress to the board as construction advances.
