Gunnison hears proposal for sewer master plan study; $140,000 estimate, CIB funding eyed

Gunnison city officials on Wednesday received a presentation from Sunrise Engineering on a proposed sewer master plan study intended to assess lagoon seepage, treatment capacity and future growth needs.

The consultant, Garrett Wilden of Sunrise Engineering, told the council the scope includes a treatment-system analysis, water-balance modeling and testing of seepage and odors, with a total estimated cost of about $140,000 and an expected schedule of roughly nine months if funded. "We track, we try to track where every drop of water goes," Wilden said, describing the water-balance work that will examine storage, evaporation and seepage in the lagoon cells.

Why it matters: Gunnison’s lagoon system showed signs of high sludge and seepage in older cells; staff said one cell is only about 3 feet deep and is largely filled with sludge. The study would quantify capacity for future residential and commercial growth, test hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other conditions, and produce prioritized recommendations that the city can use when seeking construction funding.

Scope and cost details: The consultant presented a scope of work and a line-item cost sheet. The treatment-system analysis line is listed at $43,500; the full package, including collection-system work, testing and reporting, brings the proposal near the $140,000 total. Gunnison staff said the city has $40,000 in the draft budget for the effort and that, before any CIB grant, Gunnison’s share of the work would be roughly $90,000 (the packet shows a split among participating jurisdictions and additional small testing fees).

Funding and schedule: City staff noted the Community Impact Board (CIB) typically offers a 50% grant/50% loan split for studies and projects of this type. "CIB will usually do 50% grant, 50% loan," a staff member said. The consultant advised that the earliest CIB application slot would be Oct. 1, with a funding decision at the board’s February meeting; starting the project prior to an award would not count toward CIB eligibility, so the city would either begin work in February if awarded or consider delaying to align with budget cycles.

Technical concerns discussed: Presenters and board members emphasized seepage management and the tradeoffs between sealing lagoons and risking overtopping if seepage is reduced. Wilden flagged that sealing cells can increase stored volume and create overtopping risk, which is why the water-balance analysis is central. Staff noted cell No. 1 has significant sludge and is shallower than typical lagoon cells.

Procurement and next steps: The sewer board described a public selection process that drew five engineering firms, with three finalists interviewed (Jones & DeMille, Sunrise Engineering of Richfield and JUB). The sewer board recommended moving forward with the selected firm and asked the council to approve the consultant agreement contingent on (a) available funding and (b) Centerfield City’s approval of its share of the contract. The consultant said the study will present growth projections and equivalent-residential-unit analyses to help the city link sewer capacity to future development choices.

What’s next: Council members indicated they would discuss approval at the main meeting and can delay contracting until the budget or CIB award is clear. The consultant offered to provide interim deliverables and staff said they could begin assembling existing plans and data to speed the study if funding is secured.

Ending: No formal contract was approved at the work meeting; council members said they expect to take a funding-contingent approval or final vote during the next regular meeting.