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Commission approves nearly $1 million to replace wastewater plant belt press
Summary
Leavenworth commissioners approved contracts totaling $997,900 to buy and install a screw dewatering press to replace the wastewater treatment plant's aging belt press; staff said ARPA funds are available to cover the cost.
The Leavenworth City Commission on a voice vote authorized the purchase and installation of a new dewatering screw press for the city's wastewater treatment plant, approving two contracts that together total $997,900.
Public Works Director Brian Faust told commissioners the item was to "consider approval from the purchase of a new dewatering screw press, equipment only, and approval of the installation of the press." Faust said the existing belt press has required repeated rebuilds and that parts are increasingly hard to obtain; the plant can store one to two weeks of sludge if the press is down.
Faust and Tim Gardato, director of the wastewater treatment plant, said the city had conducted demonstrations of replacement technologies and worked directly with manufacturers to reduce markup. Faust said the city currently has roughly $2,500,000 in ARPA funds available for sewer treatment upgrades.
The first approved contract authorizes the mayor to sign a purchase agreement with Process Wastewater Technologies LLC for a PW Tech Balut dewatering press not to exceed $714,200. The second authorizes the mayor to sign a contract with Walters Morgan Construction Inc. for installation not to exceed $283,700. Staff said the new press will be installed immediately adjacent to the existing belt press, allowing the city to retain the belt press as an emergency backup.
Commission discussion was limited; no roll-call tally was read into the record beyond a voice vote ("Aye") and the mayor noting the motion passed.
Faust said the press had broken down the previous Friday and an identified part was 71 days out for delivery; staff had obtained a temporary weld repair to keep operations running while pursuing the permanent replacement. Faust and Gardato told the commission they would coordinate installation and answer follow-up questions from staff.
Outcome and next steps: the mayor was authorized to sign the equipment purchase and the installation contract as described. Staff did not attach a specific implementation date in the discussion but said the installation site is immediately east of the existing belt press in the main building.
