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Polk County approves $30.42 million GMP addendum for Northeast regional wastewater plant expansion
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a guaranteed maximum price addendum with Wharton Smith Inc. for phase A2/e work at the Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to raise capacity from 6 million to 9 million gallons per day; the addendum is not to exceed $30,421,036 and includes major equipment purchases and an 824-calendar-day
Polk County—oard of County Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) addendum with Wharton Smith Incorporated not to exceed $30,421,036 for work on the county's Northeast Regional wastewater treatment facility expansion.
The manager's office told commissioners the county previously agreed with Wharton Smith on preconstruction services and on GMP Addendum No. 1 (approved Dec. 2024). The newly approved addendum covers "phase A2" electrical and communications improvements plus "phase E" plant-wide improvements such as generator replacements and a conversion from medium-voltage to low-voltage site service; it also includes procurement of long-lead equipment (odor control systems, submersible pumps, grit removal systems and a packaged plant water system). The total contract time for work and equipment procured in this addendum is 824 calendar days.
Why it matters: the overall project will increase the Northeast plant's permitted capacity from 6,000,000 gallons per day to 9,000,000 gallons per day and is part of a multi-phase expansion that the manager's office estimates could total $1200000 to $1400000 when complete. The board was told the county has funding in its adopted utilities five-year community investment program for this multi-year capital investment.
Board discussion touched on the project scale and financing. When asked whether the GMP takes the plant from 6 to 9 million, the manager's office replied "9," and estimated total program costs in the $120 million to $140 million range. County staff said the county has more than $47 million in unspent bond proceeds from a recent borrowing that could be applied toward the project and that staff and the county's financial adviser were actively evaluating borrowing timing and market conditions.
The commission moved, seconded and voted to approve the addendum. The motion carried with an affirmative vote.
Less critical detail: the expansion was planned in multiple GMP addenda covering separate work packages: GMP No. 1 (deep filter beds, chlorine contact chambers, dewatering and chemical feed building) was approved in December 2024 for $41,644,133; GMP No. 2 (this item) is $30,421,036; future GMPs will address headworks, biological nutrient removal and storage/high-service pumping phases.
