Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Campus topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Augusta council approves $430,000 phase 1 design for public works salt-and-sand building
Summary
The City Council approved a professional services agreement with JEO for phase 1 design of a new salt-and-sand storage building, with expenses not to exceed $430,000 and an authorized funding transfer from electric utility funds; council will consider broader financing during the Sept. 2 budget hearing.
The Augusta City Council on July 30 approved a professional services agreement with JEO for phase 1 of the Augusta Public Works campus project to design a replacement salt-and-sand storage building, authorizing expenditures not to exceed $430,000 and a funding transfer from the electric utility and public works project fund to prepay acquisition of solid-waste facilities for use by the electric distribution system. The council also authorized the City Manager, Joshua, to sign related documents.
City Manager Joshua said the current storage building has been failing for some time: "we do have a building that has been collapsing on us all year, and then it's continuing to get worse," and staff have been instructed to avoid entering the structure because piles of materials are currently supporting the interior walls. Joshua said the city’s 2026 budget includes a debt-financing plan for the broader public works complex, with a public hearing on the 2026 budget scheduled for Sept. 2. To avoid leaving the city without usable materials and capacity for winter storms, staff proposed fast-tracking only the salt-and-sand building as phase 1, paid in part with electric utility funds as described in the motion.
The agreement divides the project into phase 1 and phase 2; council approved only the phase 1 scope tonight. Joshua said JEO’s work in phase 1 will include preliminary engineering, drainage and setting elevations so the new structure’s location accounts for future projects and floodwater risks. When a councilmember asked about elevations and site work, Joshua said the preliminary engineering scope specifically includes setting elevations and drainage plans.
Joshua also told the council the Kansas Department of Labor performed a recent audit of the facilities and "basically, their words were the building should be condemned and people should not be in them right now." That audit was presented to the council as a key factor supporting the expedited phase 1 work.
A councilmember moved to approve the professional services agreement with JEO for phase 1 design and construction administration for the salt-and-sand building at a cost not to exceed $430,000, and to authorize the specified funding transfers and signatures. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the motion carried.
Council members will consider the broader financing steps and the remainder of the public works complex once the 2026 budget and any financing resolutions are presented at the Sept. 2 hearing. Staff said if the financing remains in the 2026 budget, the city will resume work on the rest of the engineering and initiate the financing process.
