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Council approves design contract for Bertha Street septic receiving and pretreatment station
Summary
Council approved an $83,800 contract with Living Design Group to complete design and construction documents for a septic receiving/pretreatment station on Bertha Street after staff said the facility is needed to prevent 'system shock' at the wastewater plant.
The Taos City Council approved a professional-services contract with Living Design Group for $83,800 (excluding GRT) to complete design and construction documents for a Bertha Street septic-receiving pretreatment station. The vote followed staff testimony that the new station is required by administrative orders and would reduce nutrient spikes and operational shocks at the wastewater treatment plant when septic haulers discharge directly to the plant.
Living Design Group’s scope will produce plans for a fenced yard, metering vault, a 16-by-16 receiving shed, a 10-by-10 concrete pit with washdown, an adjacent office and related site work. Staff described the facility as a metered, contained receiving station that will dilute and pretreat septage before it reaches the wastewater treatment plant and reduces the frequency of surges that have raised nutrient levels.
Staff also explained that a $120,000 capital appropriation was previously assigned to water/transmission and treatment work but that New Mexico Environment Department staff indicated the appropriation language referenced "water transmission" and drinking-water projects and could not be approved for septic-collection work without reauthorization. Town staff said they will pursue other funding and, for now, plan to use available wastewater project funds to complete design so the town can meet permit-related deadlines.
Councilor Fernandez asked whether the architectural fee includes subconsultant civil engineering, surveying, and metering-vault design; Living Design Group and staff said Acme Engineering is engaged as a subconsultant and that the quoted fee covers the full design package. Staff said the site already has some infrastructure and water on-site; operations staff will monitor and manage the receiving station after construction.
Nut graf: Council approved an architect-led design contract to meet a permit-driven need to manage septage inputs to the town system; staff will pursue funding reauthorization while moving design work forward to meet regulatory timelines.
Ending: The council approved the contract using an established procurement method and directed staff to continue permit coordination and to return for construction funding and authorizations as needed.
