City staff told the Walnut Grove City Council that the Phase 2 expansion of the LES sewer treatment plant is on schedule and open for bids, following a recent preconstruction meeting.

The presiding official said representatives from Precision Planning — identified by name in the meeting — met with interested contractors for a site walk and preconstruction review. “They had several interested companies there,” the presiding official said, summarizing the pre-bid meeting.

A bidder asked whether work hours specified in the bid documents could be modified to allow weekend work and extended daily hours for one treatment unit that sits near a pond and away from most residences. The bid document calls for work between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with work outside those hours allowed only with the city’s prior permission and compensation for city staff time.

The presiding official said she was leaning toward allowing limited weekend work for reasonable hours — for example, starting after 10 a.m. and ending midafternoon — on the isolated unit that could speed completion and possibly reduce cost. She asked the council for input and said she would pass the council’s preference to Precision Planning. Tony (unnamed in transcript) suggested written confirmation if the city allows modified hours.

Separately, the presiding official read a letter from the governor notifying the city that the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority has approved a $2,440,000 loan through the Georgia Fund to build a new water treatment plant. The presiding official read parts of the letter, quoting, “it is my pleasure to inform you that the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority has approved a $2,440,000 loan through the Georgia Fund for building a new water treatment plant.”

No formal council vote on either the requested hour modification or on accepting loan terms was recorded in the work session. Council members directed staff to send any modifications to the bid documents in writing and to continue with the advertised bidding schedule.