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Utilities director updates board on capital projects, loan nominations and recent bids
Summary
Bowling Green utilities staff reported nominations to the Ohio EPA water-loan program and summarized active capital projects, recent bid results and selected consultants and contractors for water, wastewater and electric work.
At the Board of Public Utilities meeting staff summarized capital projects, procurement activity and nominations to Ohio's drinking-water loan program.
Brian, the utilities director, said the city nominated six projects for the Ohio EPA Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) and clarified that nomination does not guarantee funding; a future loan agreement would require board and council approval. Staff said the draft award list included all six nominations and that loan interest rates were currently in the low single digits with occasional principal-forgiveness opportunities.
Staff reported active and upcoming projects across utility divisions: the low-service pump-station project is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025 and Peterson Construction was awarded that contract. The membrane-expansion work at the water plant is in design with Kimberly Horn as engineer and a 30% design review pending. Jones & Henry were selected for clarifier improvements engineering and contract negotiations were underway; Geosyntec Consultants was selected for a reservoir study and contract negotiations were in progress.
On distribution and collection, Hillebrand Construction was the low bidder on the Park Avenue water line project at $660,000 with work scheduled to be done before the university fall term (target August 25), though staff noted material delays could push completion. At the water pollution control facility, staff reported Paul Mercer Odor Control bids returned with Peterson Construction as low bidder at about $1.5 million; the clarifier-improvements construction contract at the wastewater plant drew multiple bidders and Peterson Construction was the low bidder on the $10.1 million project. Staff said equipment orders for a UV-system upgrade are placed and that in-plant staff will install the first channel's equipment in late 2025 with the second channel to follow in 2026.
Brad Tussing, acting superintendent at the wastewater plant, noted ongoing preventative maintenance tasks such as painting mixer huts and DI water-filtration work for the lab. Electric division staff reported pole replacements and general maintenance; decorative downtown light-pole refurbishing was also underway.
No formal procurement approvals were recorded during the meeting; staff characterized the report as informational. Several projects — including the clarifier improvements and reservoir study — remain in contract negotiation or design phases and will return to the board for required approvals when staff seeks loan agreements or construction contracts.
