Phenix City highlights $7.5 million AMI project, discusses $15 million wastewater work and approves Brandywine pump repair

Phenix City Council members on July 1, 2025 praised the utilities team, described a planned $7,500,000 advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project and discussed major wastewater- and basin-related repairs as staff outlined near-term and longer-term costs. The council approved a resolution authorizing repair work at the Brandywine pump station in an amount not to exceed $11,100.

The discussion mattered because the projects affect water service reliability for Phenix City and parts of Russell County, and because staff said the work will require large capital outlays and coordination across multiple utility systems.

Elijah (Staff member) outlined the AMI project as a $7,500,000 initiative the city is preparing to begin. He said the city has completed engineering estimates for Basin Number 1, described as the oldest portion of the basin system, and noted a sharp increase in underground utility conflicts tied to recent permits. Staff described the wastewater treatment plant as requiring approximately $15,000,000 in work and estimated an additional $2,000,000–$3,000,000 in related costs, without specifying funding sources or exact timelines. Elijah said the wastewater system is “hopefully, within 2 weeks we’ll be back online,” language provided by staff during the meeting.

Council members and the city manager publicly recognized individual utilities employees and managers for their work; Elizabeth Blaine (Office manager, Utilities Department) and Barry Crane (Staff member, Utilities Department) were named during that recognition. Council members including Council Member Bailey and Council Member Green thanked the utilities staff and said they hear constituent concerns about infrastructure in public meetings and while meeting constituents.

As formal action, the council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and city manager to hire Southern Rewind and Dean (contractor name as read at the meeting) to repair and install a water pump at the Brandywine pump station in an amount not to exceed $11,100. A motion to approve was made and the clerk announced the council had approved the resolution; the meeting record did not include a roll-call tally or names of mover/second in the transcript excerpts provided.

City presentations described multiple interlocking needs: AMI rollout, basin repairs (Basin Number 1 prioritized), and wastewater-plant work. Staff said some projects are already in engineering-estimate stages and that underground-utility conflicts have increased workload for crews. The meeting did not specify funding sources for the $7.5 million AMI project or for the $15 million wastewater work.

Councilmembers emphasized public transparency and urged patience as the city implements the utilities projects. The council’s approval of the Brandywine pump-station repair was the only formal vote tied to utilities work in the portion of the meeting excerpted here.