Sussex County Council approved several procurement and contract adjustments on July 15 to advance the Inland Bays wastewater expansion and related water‑system work.

The council authorized purchase orders recommended by the engineering department: $798,300 to Nexum for filtration equipment and $415,000 to ClassCo for UV equipment, both described as part of the Inland Bays expansion project. The council approved the award after staff presented a ranking matrix and life‑cycle cost considerations for the recommended units.

Separately, council approved a $500,000 retainage transfer from the South Coastal project to the Inland Bays expansion (a balancing financial step tied to prior project approvals). The council also approved a $56,960 design‑phase task order with JMT for Airport Water Storage Tank modifications (option 1) to consolidate or rehabilitate aging tanks and preserve storage by raising an existing glass‑lined tank and demolishing two older tanks.

Councilmembers voted in favor of the purchase orders and contract adjustments. Engineering staff said some site‑improvement RFPs remain to be issued and that certain items (site erosion control and temporary entrances) will be brought forward in coming weeks.

Why this matters: The equipment orders and contract transfers enable the county to order long‑lead components and continue staged construction of wastewater and water‑storage improvements. Council emphasized procurement oversight and life‑cycle costs when approving units.

These procurement approvals were formal council actions. Staff said additional RFPs and scope items will appear for council action in the next two weeks to months as the site‑improvement procurement is finalized.