Public Works Advisory Commission reviews water assets, bike skills park and utility master plans

The Public Works Advisory Commission updated the council on asset-management and utility planning work, including tours of the Olmsted hydroelectric facility, the Don A. Christiansen regional water treatment plant, and progress on the Timpanogos bike skills park and a 10-million-gallon water tank project.

Commission chair Jim Mikolas and staff said the commission's duties include reviewing water, sewer, stormwater, street lighting, telecommunications, parks and fleet issues and advising staff about master plans and investments. The commission reported seven meetings this year and said it has prioritized geographic-information-system (GIS) asset documentation and condition assessments so the city can better schedule repairs and capital replacements.

Commissioners described a recent tour of an early 20th-century hydroelectric plant at Olmsted and said the city is coordinating utility master-plan updates with financial analyses. Staff reviewed the Timpanogos Bike Skills Park (phase 3) on city property that is under construction and noted a property-exchange arrangement with Central Utah Water Conservancy District to secure access and benefits for both parties.

Staff also reported the 10-million-gallon tank is completed but not yet put into service because a booster station is required for integration into the pressurized distribution system; booster-station construction is expected to run about 18 months once the contract is in place.

Councilmembers asked about tank timing and water pressures; staff reiterated the booster station schedule and said interim pressure concerns have been addressed through maintenance.