Albany board recommends $34.9 million contract for Joshua Street wastewater solids‑handling upgrade

The Albany Utility Board on Feb. 27 voted to recommend that the City Commission enter a contract with Ruby Collins (Smyrna, Ga.) to perform the solids‑handling upgrades at the Joshua Street Water Pollution Control Plant, with the low bid reported at $34,888,171.

Engineering staff described the upgrade as a multi‑year, two‑year construction program to replace aging dewatering equipment and add a new solids‑handling building and newer gravity‑belt thickeners to improve reliability and dewatering performance. Staff said the project replaces a roughly 45‑year‑old dissolved air flotation (DAF) system that has become maintenance‑intensive and difficult to source parts for.

Scott Hughes, a project presenter, told the board the new configuration would include separate gravity belts for primary and secondary sludge, space for new belt filter presses, chemical storage and a small office and maintenance area. Hughes said the city plans to fund the contract using a combination of previously authorized borrowing and a new $12 million GEFA loan; staff added the GEFA package includes principal forgiveness on part of the borrowing.

Only one bid was received. Staff told the board the market is currently strained—many municipalities are bidding similar projects because of available grant and loan funding—so multiple solicitations over the past year produced a single compliant bid for this contract. Hughes said the project is expected to take about two years to complete once construction begins.

The board voted to recommend the contract to the City Commission; roll call recorded unanimous approval from members present.

Ending: Staff said the project will be scheduled and coordinated with other phase‑1 CSS (combined sewer/storm) work and that the board and commission will receive supplementary budget and timeline documents as the design and procurement progress.