DeKalb PWI committee approves contracts for sewer root control, generators, chemicals and more; stormwater master plan deferred

DeKalb Countys Public Works & Infrastructure Committee approved a batch of procurement items and capital program measures during its meeting, voting to award or extend multiple contracts for wastewater treatment, equipment maintenance and roadway landscaping while deferring a separate stormwater master-plan vote for further review.

The committee approved a three-year sanitary sewer chemical root-control contract to Duke's Root Control Incorporated for an amount not to exceed $19,685,670. The Department of Watershed Management presented the contract as part of ongoing consent-decree work to control root intrusions in gravity sewer lines; the item had been reviewed by audit before coming to the committee. Reginald Wells, Department of Watershed Management, said the product is applied only to targeted pipe segments identified by CCTV and then rechecked with post-treatment CCTV to confirm effectiveness. "The chemicals used aren't harmful," Wells said, adding they do not impact the plants' biological treatment processes.

The committee also approved an annual contract with two renewal options for generator maintenance and repair for use by the Departments of Watershed Management and Facilities Management. The award was split between Power and Energy Services and General Maintenance of Georgia (doing business as Sage Properties LLC), with total authorization not to exceed $3,925,000. Wells told the committee the vendors provide routine parts and repair to keep backup generation reliable at pumping stations.

Other consent items approved included: - A consent-to-assignment and contract update for route-management software originally awarded to Rubicon Global LLC; the vendor has been sold and the contract will move to WashTech Corporation (amount unchanged). (Public Works Sanitation, item 2025-0153.) - Change order 4 to the GDOT Gateway Landscaping contract with Russell Landscape LLC to restore $216,000 for ongoing maintenance related to wildflower plantings and gateway landscaping. (Public Works Sanitation & Beautification, item 2025-0192.) - An increase to a multi-year chemical supply contract with Univar Solutions USA Inc. to add up to $2,300,000 for ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide and related chemicals used at treatment plants. Wells characterized this as additional funding for ongoing treatment needs and said the county is preparing to reprocure when the contract ends. - An increase to a multi-department annual material contract to add up to $200,000 for granite rubble stone used for erosion control; awarded to Bedrock Granite Company Inc. (Watershed Management, Recreation/Parks and Public Works, item 2025-0038.) - Exercise of the second renewal option for professional inspection services to support MS4 permit compliance, awarded to Atlas Technical LLC, International Design Services Inc. (IDS Global) and Terminus Land Surveying and Services LLC for up to $2,505,000. (Public Works annual contracts, item 2025-0230.) - Approval of the Watershed Management Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list for projects tied to the countys rate and bond plans; the full CIP package and attachments were made available to commissioners and on the countys CIP site. (Item 2025-0211.)

Formal motions were made and seconded for each item and the committee recorded affirmative votes. Commissioner Shakira Johnson moved several of the approvals; Commissioner Robert Patrick seconded or led roll calls. Where recorded in the transcript, approvals were unanimous among the committee members present.

Votes at a glance (items cited in the meeting packet): - Minutes: Items 2025-5309 and 2025-5314 — motion to approve carried (2-0 recorded on the minutes approval). - Sanitary sewer chemical root-control contract: Duke's Root Control Inc.; not to exceed $19,685,670 — approved (motion: Commissioner Shakira Johnson; second: Commissioner Robert Patrick). - Generator maintenance & repair contract: Power and Energy Services; General Maintenance of Georgia dba Sage Properties LLC; not to exceed $3,925,000 — approved. - Route management software assignment: Rubicon Global LLC contract assigned to WashTech Corporation; dollar amount unchanged — approved. - GDOT Gateway Landscaping change order (wildflower/perennial maintenance): Russell Landscape LLC; add $216,000 — approved. - Chemicals (ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide, others): Univar Solutions USA Inc.; add $2,300,000 — approved. - Granite rubble stone contract increase: Bedrock Granite Company Inc.; add $200,000 — approved. - MS4 inspection services renewal: Atlas Technical LLC; IDS Global; Terminus Land Surveying and Services LLC; not to exceed $2,505,000 — approved. - Watershed Management CIP (2025+ planning list): list approved for adoption and public posting — approved. - Stormwater master plan (item 2024-1284): motion to defer two weeks and hold in committee — motion carried; item deferred to committee for 2 weeks for further review.

Why it matters: The approved contracts fund routine and capital work in DeKalb County's water and stormwater systems, including a large sanitary-sewer root-control program tied to consent-decree obligations and treatment-plant chemical supplies that support drinking-water treatment. The CIP approval formalizes a county-wide project list connected to the recent rate and bond decisions.

What the record shows about next steps: staff will proceed with awarded contracts and procurements under the approved terms; the stormwater master plan presentation was deferred for two weeks to allow committee members and staff to review detailed materials and continue watershed-specific assessments (for example, Snap Finger Creek), and commissioners asked staff to return with more granular prioritization, costs and options for funding the program.

Ending: The committee completed its agenda after the approvals and adjourned following the deferral of the stormwater master-plan item for further committee review.