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County advances $320 million water-treatment project, awards Hodgeville force main contract and secures wetland credits
Summary
The Board approved a task order to proceed to full design for a water intake and treatment plant, awarded a construction contract for the Hodgeville sanitary sewer force main and authorized purchases of required wetland mitigation credits tied to the sewer work.
Effingham County commissioners voted April 15 to move its large water system project into the full-design phase, approve a construction contract for the Hodgeville sanitary sewer force main and buy federal wetland mitigation credits needed for the sewer work.
The board approved a task order with Goodwin Mills & Caywood Inc. (GMC) to advance the county’s feasibility study into full design for a new water intake, treatment plant, finished-water piping and storage tank that will deliver water to the Bryan County border. County staff described the multi-part program as “approximately a $320,000,000 project.” The step approved on Tuesday covers design and permitting so the county can begin construction procurement later.
Why it matters: the project includes intake, raw-water and finished-water piping, a treatment plant and a tank that together will supply future demand in Effingham County and tie into a planned handoff at the Bryan County line.
County staff said they will use an alternative procurement method for the larger work — bringing a contractor into the process around the 30% design stage to help keep costs down and accelerate timelines. Jim Vaughn and Ed Saxon were named as staff contacts who have been leading the effort.
The board also awarded the Hodgeville sanitary sewer force main construction contract to Legacy Water Group LLC after receiving multiple bids. Staff said the selected bid included an alternate installation method intended to reduce future maintenance impacts. The action was approved by motion; the board voted “All in favor; none opposed,” and the motion carried.
Federal permitting requires wetland mitigation credits for impacts from the sewer work. The board approved the purchase of 1.12 mitigation credits from ML South Augusta LLC (Finzi Swamp mitigation bank) to meet the Corps of Engineers’ requirement and later approved a revision to the credit purchase after the contractor refined installation methods. Staff said directional drilling in some wetlands reduced total impacts and therefore reduced the credits required; the board approved the revised amount.
Quotes: County staff told commissioners the directed-drilling change reduced wetland impacts and lowered the mitigation requirement while keeping the project on schedule.
What’s next: staff and the project consultants will continue design and permitting, coordinate with Bryan County and the City of Savannah where required, and bring future procurement and construction phases back to the board for approval.
Ending: Commissioners approved the item as presented; staff recommended tracking potential reimbursements and working with permitting agencies to keep the program on the regional schedule.
