Murfreesboro City Council on April 17 approved a set of capital and maintenance actions tied to the city's water-treatment plant and a separate stream daylighting project.

Why it matters: The actions address operational reliability at the South Rutherford Water Treatment Plant (SRWTP), routine but costly lagoon maintenance, roof replacements for critical treatment buildings, and construction-phase engineering services for the Town Creek daylighting project — each with direct implications for service continuity, plant safety and environmental permitting.

What the council approved
- SRWTP distribution isolation valve replacement: award to Cumberland Valley Constructors for $633,000 to replace two buried valves (24-inch and 36-inch), install them in vaults and restore isolation capability; short planned shutdown of the plant required during work.
- SRWTP lagoon residuals cleanout: Amendment No. 1 with Slurry Systems Company for lagoon cleanout at a cost of $498,000 (land-application of dried slurry noted as disposal method used historically). Amendment approved.
- SRWTP flat roof repairs/replacements: contract through Omnia Partners (Water and Public Works) for three roofs at a cost of $212,152; roofs have been in service about 22 years and require replacement/repair.
- Town Creek daylighting: Task Order 16 with engineering consultant (Griggs & Maloney) for construction-phase services, contract administration, resident project representative services and permit-compliance closeout; not-to-exceed $2,510,000 and authorization to transfer CIP funds from a Vine/Front Street alignment project to Town Creek as presented.

Operational context and discussion
- Staff explained the 36-inch valve is large and currently buried without a vault; replacement and vaulting are needed because the existing valves do not fully close and prevent isolation of plant sections.
- Lagoon cleanout contractors land-apply dried residuals; the work is cyclical and planned maintenance for treatment operations.
- The Town Creek daylighting task order funds construction oversight and permits compliance; staff indicated contractor mobilization and imminent earth-moving activity.

Next steps and schedule
- Contracts/awards proceed to procurement and field scheduling; staff noted that SRWTP shutdowns will be coordinated and kept as short as possible.
- Town Creek construction will commence in the coming weeks with increased on-site activity.

Ending: Council approved the package of maintenance and construction-phase services to improve reliability and advance the daylighting project, funding them from CIP and existing departmental allocations.