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BRA authorizes $300,000 amendment for East Williamson County water‑plant expansion design
Summary
The Brazos River Authority approved a $300,000 increase to CDM Smith's professional services agreement for the East Williamson County Water Treatment Plant expansion after staff and consultants described design changes tied to an acquired 28‑acre parcel, upsized clearwell capacity and relocated sludge lagoons.
The Brazos River Authority board on Friday authorized a $300,000 amendment to the professional‑services contract with CDM Smith for design work on the East Williamson County (EWC) water‑treatment plant expansion.
Blake Kettler, the authority’s chief planning officer, told directors the additional funds are needed to incorporate an adjacent 28‑acre tract the authority purchased into the phase‑2 expansion design, and to pay for additional surveying, geotechnical borings, environmental work and utility coordination.
The nut graf: Staff said the property acquisition allows the authority to increase treated‑water storage (clearwell capacity) from 2,000,000 to 4,250,000 gallons, upsize sludge lagoons, add a maintenance building and build stormwater detention, and that the $300,000 amendment equals less than 2% of the project’s original professional‑services authorization.
Kettler and project consultant Alan Wilke of CDM Smith walked the board through the scope: a 13 million‑gallon‑per‑day plant expansion at about 95% design, a parallel 48‑to‑60‑inch treated‑water pipeline (60% design), Trinity groundwater well integration (near 100% design) and associated site changes to incorporate the newly acquired parcel. Kettler said the additional work includes boundary and topographic surveys, archaeological coordination with the Texas Historical Commission, utility relocation and permitting.
Board members pressed on timeline and cost exposure. Kettler said the design was 95% complete on the plant and that most of the original design budget (~$6.8M of the project authorization) had been spent on design; the requested $300,000 will keep design on schedule and allow the team to address the new parcel’s needs. He said acquiring the property provides flexibility for this expansion and potential future expansions.
The resolution authorizes the general manager/CEO to increase CDM Smith Inc.’s total not‑to‑exceed professional‑services amount by up to $300,000. The motion, made by Director Wilson and seconded by Director Henderson, passed with one abstention from Director Embro and the remaining directors voting yes.
