Buildings and Utility Committee urges emergency approval to raise chlorine-conversion authorization to $2.975 million

The Buildings and Utility Committee on June 30 recommended that the City Council increase authorization for the city’s chlorine-to-alternative disinfectant conversion project to $2,975,000 and approve emergency legislation so the director of public service and safety can enter a contract with Peterson Construction Company of Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Committee members said the increase is needed after bids and supply lead times pushed the project beyond the $2,275,000 estimate approved during budget deliberations. Staff said the low bid for the conversion construction alone exceeded the previous authorization and that some equipment — notably a replacement slaker — has a 12- to 18-month lead time.

Staff told the committee, “We are asking, recommending that the Council’s authorization be increased to $2,975,000 to complete the conversion chlorine conversion project as well as the Slaker,” and added that ordering equipment immediately would avoid later rebidding of the installation work. The staff presentation also noted the city had separated the flow-meter replacements from the conversion bid as alternatives so the conversion work could proceed within the revised authorization. The committee was told the flow meters will be evaluated for possible in-house installation and could be included in the 2026 budget if not completed now.

The request for emergency legislation is intended to let the contractor order long-lead components without delay. Staff said the original budget estimate did not anticipate post-budget price increases and contractor feedback that mobilization and customization made the work more complex than originally designed. The committee indicated unanimous support for the staff recommendation to move forward and requested Council action.

Background: staff earlier sought bids based on a $2,275,000 authorization that included conversion construction, the slaker and three large flow meters. Bids came in higher; staff now proposes excluding the flow meters from the immediate contract and asks the Council to increase the project cap to $2,975,000 to cover the conversion construction and the slaker. The slaker’s long lead time was cited as a primary reason to award the work now so that the equipment can be ordered and installed under the current contractor pricing.

The committee did not take a formal, recorded vote during the meeting; members said they were unanimous in recommending Council approve the increased authorization and emergency legislation so procurement can proceed.