City hires consultant to re-examine wastewater plant upgrades; some CIP items may be deferred

City staff told commissioners they have engaged Black & Veatch to produce a design-and-cost study for the wastewater treatment facility and that the study’s conclusions will determine whether some CIP items should be replaced or deferred.

Public-works staff and the city manager described the existing treatment plant and a list of replacement projects that staff had included in the CIP based on an earlier HDR assessment. Many of those items (switchgear, filters, pumps and other plant equipment) were identified as candidates for replacement in the earlier study. Black & Veatch is expected to deliver a follow-up report in early fall: staff said the new work will evaluate whether the city should build a new wastewater treatment plant on the existing site and which of the currently listed equipment replacements would be unnecessary if a new plant is constructed.

Staff cautioned commissioners that committing to a new plant would change short-term CIP priorities: items slated for replacement at the existing plant could be deferred or canceled, and money saved could become a down payment or reduce borrowing for a new facility. Conversely, if the commission chooses not to pursue a new plant, the city will need to follow through on equipment replacements identified in the earlier HDR work to keep current systems operating.

Staff did not present final design recommendations or request immediate funding for plant replacement at this meeting; they said the consultant report would be available in the coming months and any procurement or borrowing decisions would return to the commission for formal action.