Board reviews $3.6 million amendment request for JCW integrated planning services; item set as action

Johnson County staff on March 6 presented a request to amend a consultant contract for the county’s integrated planning program for wastewater and utilities services, asking the board to authorize $3,599,030 in additional contract funds.

The agenda listed a proposed contract amendment for $3,599,030 with HGR Engineering for JCW Integrated Plan Program Services, increasing the total not-to-exceed contract amount to $18,913,030. Tammy Lorenzen, a JCW staff member, said the integrated planning framework helps prioritize competing investment needs and allows the utility to sequence work with flexibility under the Clean Water Act. "The integrated planning framework allows utilities to capitalize on the flexibilities that exist within the Clean Water Act for the sequencing and scheduling of work," Lorenzen said.

Lorenzen highlighted 2024 program accomplishments, including new key performance indicators for treatment and pumping operations, a warehouse workflow pilot that reduced crew downtime, and programs targeting infiltration and inflow (I&I) reductions such as the JOCO inflow program and a manhole rehabilitation program. She said the county is either meeting or exceeding I&I reduction goals in most areas and that the integrated plan is producing cost savings.

Lorenzen cited two financing savings estimates included in the presentation: $133 million in projected interest savings on Nelson financing by using State Revolving Fund (SRF) and WIFIA loans instead of GEO bonds over the life of the loans, and $278 million in cost savings identified through base and capacity processes compared with previously recommended alternatives. She said the third-party work under the contract will continue to support design, asset management and project execution as the county moves into phase 2 of the program.

Commissioners asked questions about continuity, phasing, and whether the federal changes to WIFIA would affect the executed loan agreement; Lorenzen said she and staff had not heard of any issues with the WIFIA loans. Commissioner Allenbrand and Commissioner Hansley praised the transparency and level of detail in the materials and were directed to the program website (JCWprogram.com) for the full phase 2 report and an executive summary. At the agenda review close, the board opted to bring the item forward as an action item for the March 13 business session.

The agenda text referred to "HGR Engineering" for the amendment; a later remark in the presentation referenced "HDR's contract." The agenda copy provided to the board lists HGR Engineering; the transcript contains the inconsistent reference. The board’s final authorization, if approved, will be taken at the March 13 business session.