The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 27 approved professional services agreements and procurement steps for several county sewer and wastewater projects aimed at infrastructure rehabilitation and long-term biosolids management.

Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with AECOM Technical Services for final engineering and design of the Liberty Hills sanitary sewer rehabilitation (Resolution 25-874). County staff said the project covers about 2,800 linear feet of 27-inch trunk sewer and five manholes where a stream incision has undermined infrastructure; construction is estimated at about $2,000,000, with design work this year and construction planned for 2027.

The board also approved a contract with CDM Smith for a biosolids master plan (Resolution 25-875). County environmental services staff described the study as a comprehensive review of biosolids processing, hauling and handling at all nine county treatment plants. The plan will include concept and 30% design for recommended improvements at the Alton Creek plant, where staff said the current belt filter press (about 24 years old) may be replaced by a centrifuge that could reduce solids volume and improve efficiency.

Related procurement and operations items approved included:

- Purchase authority for a 2025 Ford T350 truck outfitted with CCTV equipment to support pipe inspection work for the Regional Sewer District (Resolution 25-876).

- Approval to set a date to receive competitive sealed proposals for biosolids hauling and disposal services (Resolution 25-877). Staff said the county spent about $666,000 on biosolids in 2024 and that the new solicitation will be a two-year contract with up to three one-year renewals for a total potential of five years.

Commissioners also approved an engineering agreement and other routine items related to sewer operations; votes on the sewer and biosolids items were unanimous (Aye: Barb Lewis, Gary Merrill, Jeff Benton). Staff said the master plan will produce a 10-year improvement roadmap to guide capital and operational decisions and may identify options to reduce hauling volumes and operating costs.