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Board of Public Works OKs filter media purchase, rapid-mixer replacements and extends engineering contract; approves $778,429.82 in vouchers
Summary
At its March meeting the Board of Public Works and Capital Assets approved a purchase of filter media, replacement of two rapid mixers, an extension to an engineering services agreement and payment of $778,429.82 in utility vouchers; staff also reported a 30% drop in industrial water use by We Energies and upcoming water-main work on K. Sheppard.
The Board of Public Works and Capital Assets on March 2025 authorized several utility purchases and contract actions and approved utility vouchers totaling $778,429.82.
Board members approved a purchase of additional filter media from Xylem Inc., authorized replacement of two rapid mixers with William Reed LTD, and extended a general services agreement with Strand Engineers for up to $75,000 and through Dec. 31, 2030. The board also approved payment of utility vouchers totaling $778,429.82 and accepted staff administrative reports noting a 30% drop in industrial water usage by We Energies and a planned K. Sheppard Avenue water-main project starting on the 17th.
The filter-media purchase was described by staff as a replacement of anthracite media lost from the top of treatment plant filters during backwashing; staff said the last comprehensive filter work dated to February 2010 and that test sampling last year showed about 2,000 pounds of media was needed. The agenda listed $19,007.42 for the Xylem purchase, while the motion read into the record cited $19,742. Staff said plant crews will perform the installation themselves.
A staff speaker said the two rapid mixers — equipment that blends coagulant into raw water at the intake — were originally installed in 1999 and have been rebuilt multiple times. Rebuild parts are increasingly difficult to source, so staff recommended full replacement. The motion authorizing William Reed LTD was read at $53,479.68; staff said replacements will be done one at a time to keep treatment operations running.
The board also authorized the utility engineer to amend the existing general services agreement with Strand Engineers not to exceed $75,000 and to extend the contract to Dec. 31, 2030. Staff explained Strand performs structural and construction reviews for cell antennas and smaller towers, and assists on smaller “as-needed” jobs including upcoming intake-cleaning regulatory work. Board members noted that fees billed for cell-site reviews are reimbursed by the cell carriers.
Board member Bill described the filter-media purchase as “pretty uncontroversial to me,” and a staff member outlined the mixers’ 1999 installation and repeated rebuilds. The vouchers were presented without detailed line-item discussion; a board motion approved payment of $778,429.82.
In the administrative report staff said industrial usage is down about 30% compared with last year, driven largely by reduced consumption by We Energies; staff said the utility has engaged with the company over a possible property leak in prior months. Staff also reported that K. Sheppard Avenue water-main work is scheduled to begin next Monday, running from Groveland to Bridal. No legal authorities or external approvals were cited as conditions for the approved actions.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows motions to approve the minutes, to enter agreements with Xylem Inc. and William Reed LTD, to amend and extend the Strand Engineers agreement (not to exceed $75,000 through Dec. 31, 2030), and to approve utility vouchers for $778,429.82; the board moved and seconded each item during roll calls and proceeded to the next agenda item after recorded affirmative votes.
