Council approves wastewater risk and resilience assessment and emergency response plan with Wessler Engineering

The Speedway Town Council approved task order No. 8 on July 14, authorizing Wessler Engineering to perform a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for the town's wastewater system at a lump‑sum fee of $7,000 ($2,000 for the RRA; $5,000 for the ERP).

Town manager Grant Kleinines explained the RRA/ERP will assess vulnerabilities to natural hazards and intentional threats and will be used internally and with public‑safety partners to protect wastewater assets. He said, "It is an assessment of our vulnerabilities, both hazards, natural phenomenon, as well as those who might wish ill will on our facilities." Kleinines also noted the task order is an internal document and does not require submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Councilor questions focused on whether the study would satisfy a new state law requiring utilities to submit cybersecurity risk assessments. A councilor referenced "SEA 459," asking whether the Wessler work would meet that obligation. Kleinines said the RRA includes cybersecurity questions but that the town is "not 100% sure" if the task order fully satisfies the specific state requirement; staff agreed to follow up.

The motion to approve the task order passed by unanimous voice vote, recorded as Passes 5‑0. Council asked staff to confirm whether the RRA can satisfy the state's cybersecurity reporting requirement and to report back.

Separately, in department reports Public Works Director Brad reported the plants' monthly flows and said an energy‑savings project is scheduled to begin receiving equipment in August; manhole lining was scheduled to start after the Brickyard 400. Those operational updates were provided as routine department reports, not as separate council actions.